A trip to the supermarket may leave you confused as to what kinds of food are healthy. Rather than choosing reduced-fat processed foods such as cookies, seek out whole foods that contain necessary nutrients without a lot of added ingredients your body doesn't need. By choosing a variety of healthy foods each day, you can help ensure that you keep your body running smoothly for decades to come.
Milk Products
Many adults know that children should drink milk every day, but fail to get their own. Skim milk tops the healthy list, along with low-fat yogurt. Hard cheeses are healthy in moderation, as well are low-fat soft cheeses such as cottage cheese. Low-fat buttermilk is nutritious and offers a different taste for baking or meal accompaniment.
Meat and Beans
The broad category of meat and beans contains a wide assortment of animal and plant proteins. Topping the healthy list are fatty fish, such as tuna, salmon and mackerel, and all varieties of beans. Lentils, tree nuts, peanuts, peas, chickpeas, non-fatty fish and seafood are also excellent protein choices. Soy and eggs are good choices in moderation. Lean poultry, such as chicken breast and turkey breast, are healthy, and lean beef and pork can be eaten occasionally. Remove skin from poultry and trim visible fat from meat. Ground meat should have 10 percent or less fat.
Fruit
Fruit is a healthy food that can often be eaten whole. Choose a variety of colors, such as purple grapes, oranges, mango, pineapple, cantaloupe and raspberries. The American Dietetic Association suggests that you make a habit of adding fruit to meals and snacks. Choose frozen and canned fruit when fruit isn't available in season. Avoid canned fruit packed in syrup, opting for fruit with fruit juice instead. Fruit juice is healthy in moderation if you ensure you are drinking 100 percent juice.
Vegetables
Like fruits, vegetables should be chosen for their color variety. Leafy vegetables and members of the onion family are healthy, but all vegetables supply important nutrients. Try sweet potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, eggplant and tomatoes. Some vegetables may be eaten raw, but others, such as tomatoes, provide extra nutrition when cooked. Canned and frozen vegetables are healthy as long as salt and sugar haven't been added.
Whole Grains
Whole grains add to nature's bounty by providing a supply of cereals such as oatmeal, whole-wheat cereal and whole-grain cream of wheat. Choose cereals that don't have a large number of added ingredients. Breads, wraps, rolls, buns, pretzels and muffins can all be found in whole grain varieties.
Oils
You may have heard a lot about fat being bad for your health, but the truth is that you do need to consume some healthy oil each day. The Harvard School of Public Health recommends canola oil and olive oil. Other oils that make the healthy list include peanut oil, soybean oil and corn oil when used in moderation.
Member Comments