Diet – What Are Healthy Foods?

A healthy lifestyle is more than just working out, it’s about eating right as well. But, it can be difficult at times to remember what foods out there are the best for you. And, even if you have a favorite group of “healthy” foods, sometimes aren’t as good for you as you first thought.

One criteria for a “healthy” food, is that the food should be “nutrient-dense”. This is a measure of the amount of nutrients a food has, compared to the number of calories it has. When the level of nutrients is high, compared to the caloric count, then that food is considered “nutrient” dense. Your goal should be to get the highest amount of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, and fiber, for the least number of calories.

Another criteria is that the food should be a “whole food”. No, this doesn’t mean you have to shop Whole Foods, but it does mean that have not had all of their nutrients processed out of them. They shouldn’t contain synthetic, artificial, or irradiated ingredients either. Organic foods are a great way to help make sure the foods you are eating are “whole foods”.

Another way to find healthy foods is to keep in mind that most healthy foods are ones that you already know, but sometimes forget to think about. These include lean meats & fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts & seeds, olive oil, herbs and spices.

Finally, one last thing to remember, is that healthy foods taste good! Sometimes it’s hard to remember that - so when the temptation to eat food that isn’t on your nutrition plan comes along…remember that not only is eating healthy good for you, you’re not sacrificing taste for health!

Looking for a good resource for healthy eating choices? Visit http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php