Exercising is a great start towards getting your body and mind healthy. However, exercise should not be the only factor. There needs to be a balance of both physical activity and healthy nutrition. Nutrition is one issue that people lack in that balance. When you do not consume enough foods that are essential to development, growth and overall health, your body does not receive the calories it needs. Knowing what you need to consume daily, will restore that balance. We have three quick ways to help put you on the right track.

Make Your Calories Count

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is a right amount of calories that should be eaten each day. Eating a variety of foods and beverages packed with nutrients will help you to reach your calorie intact for the day. A healthy diet plan includes:

• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans (legumes), eggs, and nuts
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars
• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products

Use the Nutritional Facts Label

On the side of packages of foods shows the nutritional facts label. This label will help you to make smart choices in what should be actually eaten. When more servings are consumed, the calories and nutrients will also be more. If there is a high amount of calories eaten for the day, then you should eat foods with lower calories to balance out. The percentage of the Daily Value (DV) should also be checked. 

The recommended daily value includes:

• 100% DV per day of dietary fiber, iron, vitamins A and C, potassium and calcium
• 100% DV per day for total fat, sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat
• Trans fats should be as low as possible

Read the List of Ingredients

When reading the list of ingredients on food packages, the ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance by weight. This means that the ingredient that weighs the most is listed first, and the ingredient that weighs the least is listed last. The best ingredients that should be eaten more of such as whole grains, should be listed first and the ingredients that should be eaten less of such as added sugars should be further down on the list.

Foods that you like can be part of your healthy diet as long as they're eaten in moderation and balanced with other smart food choices throughout the day. To find more of what you need for healthy living, please Contact Us.