How to Follow Healthy Eating Plan

How to Follow Healthy Eating Plan
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Eating healthy may seem like a chore or a difficult task to accomplish day in and day out, but there's no question that it's important for your body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, 68 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese, meaning it's more important than ever to watch what you eat.

Step 1

Research healthy eating plans that are endorsed by medical groups or government health or food agencies, such as the Mayo Clinic, the American Heart Association or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Step 2

Write down the specific serving amounts for each food group outlined in the healthy eating plan of your choice. Most plans have recommendations for fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, fats and protein, among others.

Step 3

Create a daily meal plan based on the serving recommendations given in the healthy eating plan. Make a column for each meal as well as a few columns for regular snacks throughout the day.

Step 4

Write down each specific food you plan to eat for each meal throughout the day, and how many servings of the particular food group it counts for. For instance, the USDA recommends that adults get six 1 oz. servings of grains each day. A slice of bread is approximately 1 oz., according to the USDA, so you would write down one serving of grains if you had a slice of toast for breakfast.

Step 5

Add up all the servings of the major food groups at the end of your day and evaluate how you did, according to the recommendations. Try to go over on fruits, vegetables and whole grains rather than going over on animal protein, fats and sugars.

Step 6

Have a plan in place when you go out to eat at a restaurant. Visit the restaurant's website to find more about the nutritional facts of their menu items and make a meal plan based on that information, so you're not caught off guard.

References

Article reviewed by OmahaTyppo Last updated on: Sep 28, 2010

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