How To Eat Healthy Instead of Eating Junk

Eating healthy tastes good.

Eating healthy means getting the right amount of each of the food groups and avoiding sugary, fattening, over-processed and fried foods. The recommended daily amounts needed for each food group are 2 cups fruit, 2 1/2 cups vegetables, 6 oz. grains, 5 1/2 oz. protein (this category includes meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts), 3 cups milk, yogurt or cheese, and 6 tsp of oils, according to "Essentials of Nutrition & Diet Therapy."

Instructions

1. 

   Strawberries are sweet and healthier than sugary snacks.

   Shop for healthy snacks. Snacks are one of the ways that people get too much junk in their systems. Instead of candy bars, buy fruit and nut bars. To replace crunchy snacks like potato chips choose celery, carrots and nuts. To cater to a sweet tooth, berries are a very healthy alternative, with healthy natural sugars.

2. 

   Salad is a quick meal that beats fast food any day.

   Avoid fast food. Instead of eating at fast food restaurants, choose a sub shop if getting a quick meal is a must. Purchasing items for quick meals at home is a good idea, too. Buy a bagged salad and add ingredients like nuts, dried fruits, light salad dressing, low-fat cheese and chicken breast chunks for a filling meal. Take a sack lunch to work with a salad or a healthy sandwich and a serving of low-fat yogurt.

3. 

   Whole, lean meats are the healthy choice.

   Pick whole meats instead of processed meats. Also choose lean cuts. Processed meats do not have all of the nutrients that whole meats do. Pick whole chicken breasts and whole turkey breasts, and slice them up for sandwiches instead of buying lunch meats. Keep red meats to a minimum, as red meat can clog your arteries. Choose to eat red meat just once a week.

4. 

   Soda is full of sugar.

   Cut soda out of your diet. The sugar content in soda is known to aid in tooth decay and helps you gain weight. Instead of soda and other sugary, drinks pick water. Everyone should have eight 8 oz. glasses of water every day. When water just is not enough, try some 100 percent fruit juice.

References

• "Food For Life"; Julie Cull; 2003
• "Nutrition: The Science of Eating"; Frances Sizer; 2008
• "Essentials of Nutrition & Diet Therapy"; Sue Rodwell Williams, et al.; 2007