Everyone knows that eating a healthy diet is important. But what is a healthy diet? Is it low-fat? Is it low-carb? Something else? Here are some general guidelines for healthy eating.
What makes some processed foods less healthy? Ingredients such as salt, sugar and fat are sometimes added to processed foods to make their flavour more appealing and to prolong their shelf life, or in some cases to contribute to the food's structure, such as salt in bread or sugar in cakes. This can lead to people eating more than the recommended amounts for these additives, as they may not be aware of how much has been added to the food they are buying and eating.
Eat only enough calories to maintain a healthy weight and eat lots (and lots) of fruits and vegetables. Everyone already knows how good they are for your body.
Use whole grain breads and pastas. These are high in fibre and are a rich source of many essential vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. They are an an excellent source of carbohydrates and completely cholesterol-free. When grains are refined (for example, to produce white flour), the bran and germ layers are generally removed, leaving only the endosperm. This process can cause significant losses of fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals from the grains.
Try to limit red meat, and use fish (preferable), chicken and legumes as primary protein sources. Avoid trans fats. Avoid processed foods in general, and processed carbohydrates in particular.
Examples of common processed foods include: breakfast cereals cheese tinned vegetables bread savoury snacks, such as crisps meat products, such as bacon "convenience foods", such as microwave meals or ready meals drinks, such as milk or soft drinks.
