Healthy Eating Plan (2024)

FAQs

What is a healthy plan of eating? ›

The more veggies — and the greater the variety — the better. Potatoes and French fries don't count. Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats. Eat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice).

Eat a variety of foods

Choose meals that include 3 to 5 of the USDA MyPlate food groups and snacks that include 2 to 3 of the food groups. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or fat-free dairy all contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.

If not, try our performance-nutrition tips to ensure you're getting the fuel you need to feel and perform your best. The 3 keys to optimal nutrition are balance, quality, and timing.

This passage by Ellen Sattyr sums up nicely what a normal day of eating looks like… “Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose the food you enjoy and eat it and truly get enough of it – not just stop eating because you think you should.

A healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. It protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.

The most common unhealthy foods include highly-processed items such as fast foods and snack foods. That's because highly-processed foods tend to be low in nutrients (vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) and high in empty calories. This is because they contain high levels of unhealthy fats, sodium and sugar.

Your goal is to fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit at every meal. Choose brightly coloured fruits and vegetables each day, especially orange and dark green vegetables (click here for more information). Frozen or canned unsweetened fruits and vegetables are a perfect alternative to fresh produce.

What is the most important meal of the day? ›

Breakfast is often called 'the most important meal of the day', and for good reason. As the name suggests, breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health.

Healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, help lower cholesterol, manage blood pressure, reduce blood sugar, and support brain function. You can find healthy fats in foods like avocados, fish, and olive oil. It's essential to consume saturated fats, in contrast, in moderation.

Five meals a day equals breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. To do this right, you need to plan what you'll eat every day for each “meal.” And you need to schedule eating every 2 to 3 hours. Stock up. Face it: You're going to grab whatever food is closest.

Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Choose a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, and grain products. Use sugars only in moderation. Use salt and sodium only in moderation.