To function properly, your body needs nutrients, which are obtained primarily through your diet. Because of this, eating a healthy diet is vital to ensure that you are in the best health possible. Eating healthy doesn't have to be difficult, but it does mean that you must give up or restrict the amount of unhealthy foods you choose. Part of eating healthy is choosing foods that are nutrient dense instead of foods such as snack cakes, which don't contain many, if any, nutrients.
Step 1
Eat foods from all of the major food groups. To ensure you get in all the food groups, make a checklist that includes 6 to 11 servings of grains, with at least half of those consisting of whole grains; two to three servings of meat or protein; two to three servings of dairy products; two to four servings of fruit; and three to five servings of vegetables each day. When you choose what to eat from each food group, choose lean, low-fat and low-calorie options. For fruits and vegetables, choose to eat foods that are different colors, such as broccoli, eggplant and carrots, each day.
Step 2
Monitor your salt intake. You should consume no more than 2,300 mg of salt each day. On packaged foods, salt is listed as sodium. If you are over 51; suffer from high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes; or if you are African American, you mustn't consume more than 1,500 mg per day, notes the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Step 3
Consume a small amount of healthy oil each day. Most people need approximately 2 tbsp. of oil, such as olive oil or canola oil, each day. You can also eat salad dressing or mayonnaise to get your daily oil if the product is made with a healthy oil such as olive, canola or sunflower oil.
Step 4
Bypass unhealthy beverages such as soft drinks and other sugary drinks as these contain empty calories that don't provide you with any nutrition. Choose to drink low-fat milk or water instead. You can also drink some all-natural fruit juice, but do so in moderation as these contain calories that count toward your daily calorie intake limit.
Step 5
Cook your food using healthy methods. Baking, grilling, searing, boiling, roasting and broiling are usually healthy options as long as you don't use high-fat preparations such as slathering your food in butter. If you choose to use unhealthy cooking methods, such as frying, do so in moderation.
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