I know it’s hard to prepare healthy food meals for your families, when you do not know where to start. But it’s easier than you think. Start out by choosing the most healthy foods, then create a healthy eating menu and healthy meal plans.
This list will make this task a breeze.
1. Grains. 6 ounces of grains are recommended daily. The most healthy grain foods are whole grain cereal, rice, breads and even pasta.
2. Vegetables. Lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes are a few examples of healthy food choices. 2 things to remember, the greener the better, and two cups and a half per day are recommended.
3. Fruits. 2 cups daily will do just fine. Fruit juice is great, but keep it to a limit. Fresh fruits are always the best choice.
4. Milk. Milk is our calcium rich friend. 3 cups is the ideal goal for adults and 2 cups for kids. When choosing milk products or yogurt, always go for fat-free or low-fat. Those who don’t like milk or can’t have it, should opt for lactose-free products or other sources of calcium such as fortified foods and beverages.
5. Meat. Eating 5 ounces a day is great, and we should go for lean protein. When eating meat, remember to bake, grill, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from adding to the equation. Try to vary our protein as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.
When cooking food, don’t forget to limit solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard. These may add flavor to our dishes but they can also raise our cholesterol as well. Therefore, it’s advisable to limit these foods and any foods that contain them.
To help keep our saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium intake low, we have to check the nutrition facts label. This label can be found on the food package and will tell us all the information we need to know about the food item.
Healthy food meals, along with exercise, will develop your healthy lifestyle. That’s exactly what your body needs. So before you pick up that candy or fried foods, ask yourself: “Is this a healthy food choice?