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Eating is one of life's greatest pleasures. And today, which such a wide
variety of foods available in supermarkets and restaurants, there is much
room for choice in what we eat. March is National Nutrition Month and a
good time to re-focus on healthful eating. The theme of this year's
campaign is "Healthy Eating, Healthy You."
Eating healthfully doesn't have to mean going cold turkey on all your
favorite foods. Nor does it mean giving up good taste. What it does mean
is choosing high-calorie, high-fat foods such as chips, fries and donuts
as "sometimes" foods and making lower-fat, higher-fiber choices your
"everyday" foods. Rather than having donuts and coffee for breakfast every
day, make whole-grain cereal and low-fat milk your everyday choice and
donuts and coffee your Saturday morning choice.
Healthful eating helps you get the most out of life. A healthy lifestyle
is the key to looking good, feeling great and being your best at work and
play. It all starts with a healthy eating plan. One good plan to follow is
the Food Guide Pyramid. Today there are many different pyramids from which
to choose. Each has a little different focus, whether it be children,
vegetarians, or encouraging the consumption of more monounsaturated fat
and less refined sugar. While there is much bickering among those who
promote one plan over the other, what's important is to choose the plan
that best fits your individual needs.
USDA's basic Food Guide Pyramid has recently been bashed in the press for
not meeting the needs of Americans. The biggest problem with the Food
Guide Pyramid, however, is that we're not following it. As a nation, we
eat too many foods high in the saturated fats and refined sugars at the
top of the pyramid and too little of the fruits, vegetables and whole
grains in the lower part of the pyramid.
Regardless of the plan you choose, it's important to actively pursue
variety. This doesn't mean rotating between McDonald's, Burger King and
Wendy's on a regular basis. Rather, it means expanding your range of
choices and exploring new tastes within and among food groups. Eating a
wide variety of foods not only promotes optimal nutrition, it provides the
pleasurable aspects of eating.
Along with variety, it's important to make moderation your goal. Healthy
eating doesn't mean feeling deprived or guilty. Look at the big picture.
It's what you eat over several days, not just one day or one meal, that's
important.
Finally, develop a personal fitness plan that fits your lifestyle. Variety
is also important here. Find a variety of activities you enjoy and do them
on a regular basis. You don't need expensive exercise equipment or
complicated fitness programs. Walking is one of the best exercises around
and only requires good shoes.
Fitness, like a long, healthy life, is something we need to work on every
day. Gone is the three-times-a-week guideline for exercise. The newest
Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that we engage in 30 minutes
or more of moderate physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the
week.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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