What does it mean to eat a “balanced diet?” It might seem like common sense, but in reality, there isn’t one specific diet or way of eating that works for everyone.
A healthy, balanced diet is one that is appropriate for your lifestyle, health concerns, and food preferences in order to improve overall health and well-being. For example, someone who has chronic fatigue has a specific set of nutritional needs, which are different than an active individual who wants to eat more fresh food.
Contact our office to learn more about what food plan is right for you. Different diet plans can help you achieve different health results.
How to Balance Your Diet
Set realistic goals. If you’ve been eating fast food every day for years, switching to a diet of fresh, healthy foods can be difficult. Set yourself up for success by setting small, attainable goals. You might start by adding a side salad to your dinner one night a week. By slowly incorporating healthy changes, you are more likely to stick to your goals.
Eat the rainbow. For optimal health, eat nutrients from a wide variety of types and colors. Aim to eat red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and white plants on a daily basis.
Drink up. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water, decaffeinated tea, seltzer water, broth, and fresh, raw, cold-pressed vegetable juices. Avoid sugary sodas, and try replacing them with green tea or sparkling mineral water. To help attain your goal, carry a water bottle with you throughout the day.
Don’t skip on healthy fats. Healthy fats support brain and heart health, while providing you with energy. Try to get omega-3 fatty acids from foods (avocados, fish, nuts and seeds, certain oils) and eat less omega-6 fatty acids (processed foods, salad dressings, sauces).
Choose better carbohydrates. Carbohydrates aren’t just found in grains. Fruits, vegetables, and legumes can be a healthier source of carbohydrates.
Eat protein. Protein is a vital to many functions of your body. Without it, your body may feel tired and weak. Meats, eggs, poultry, and seafood are excellent sources of protein, as well as high-protein plant foods like lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, chia seed, tempeh, beans, legumes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, oats, potatoes, spinach, and wild rice
Limit sugar and processed foods. Consuming too many heavily processed foods has been linked to severe and chronic health problems. Limit your intake of "ultra-processed" foods, and choose healthier, unprocessed and minimally processed nutrient-rich foods.
Contact our office to learn more about eating a healthy, balanced diet for optimal health and well-being.