Healthy
eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying
unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love.
Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, and keeping
yourself as healthy as possible– all of which can be achieved by
learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for
you.
Developing healthy eating habits is not an
impossible task. With consistent good food choices, a heart healthy
eating plan can soon be a reality. Obviously, good habits aren’t born
overnight. But if a person wants to develop heart-healthy eating habits,
exactly how long does it take?
For the person who wants to develop some
heart-healthy eating habits, here are some tips for getting started. In
just a few months, these choices can be a part of a
person’s regular healthy diet plan.
How to Choose Nutritious Foods
For a heart healthy diet, the doctors
recommend that individuals choose from a variety of nutritious food. Nutritious food have vitamins, minerals, and
fiber, but are not high in calories. Examples: vegetables, fruits, whole-grain like Quaker Oats and dairy
items that are fat-free or low-fat. Choosing from a variety of fruits
and vegetables helps a person control weight and blood pressure.
Start slow and make changes to your eating
habits over time. Trying to make your diet healthy overnight isn’t
realistic or smart. Make small steps, like adding a salad (full of
different color vegetables) to your diet once a day or switching from
butter to olive oil when cooking. As your small changes become habit,
you can continue to add more healthy choices to your diet.
Avoid Unhealthy Food.
In addition to
choosing good foods that are nutritious, it’s important to avoid foods
that are low in nutrients and high in calories. This means cutting back
on:
- foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
- foods high in cholesterol
- drinks and foods with added sugars
- meat and dairy foods that are commercially baked and fried
- alcohol
- foods which are high in sodium
Easy Healthy Food Choices
With some simple steps, individuals can make
the foods they eat a little healthier. Good food habits that are easy to
start include the following:
- Read the product labels and pick the item with less sodium.
- Use herbs and spices in place of salt to flavor foods.
- Rinse foods to get rid of some of the sodium.
In just a short amount of time, daily habits of choosing a heart healthy food and planning healthy menus can have a person on the way to a
healthier lifestyle.