How To: Eat nutritiously for better health

Looking to make a nutritious change in your life? By choosing the right foods in the right amounts, you can reap rewards that will benefit you in all aspects of your life. In this tutorial, learn how to eat healthy and make positive changes in what you consume.

You Will Need:
• A computer with internet access
• Vegetables and fruits
• Whole-grain breads, rice, cereal, and pasta
• Lean meats
• Poultry
• Fish
• Beans
• Egg Whites
• Tofu
• Nuts & seeds
• Low-fat diary products
• Healthy oils

Step 1: Learn basics of nutrition
Learn the basics of nutrition, using the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. It describes the five basic food groups, serving sizes, and the recommended number of daily servings for each.

Step 2: Eat fruits and vegetables
Eat three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruit daily. Aim for fresh produce, and avoid canned products with sodium or sugar.

Step 3: Eat variety of whole grain products
Eat a variety of whole grain products, from six to 11 servings a day. Choose complex carbohydrates, such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, or cereal that has at least three grams of fiber per serving.

Step 4: Eat low-fat protein
Eat two to three servings of low-fat protein. The best sources are lean meat, poultry, fish, beans, egg whites, tofu, and nuts and seeds.

Step 5: Eat low-fat dairy products
Eat two to three servings of low-fat dairy products, including milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Step 6: Minimize use of fats and oil
Use small amounts of healthy fats and oils such as olive, canola, and safflower.

Step 7: Avoid sugar and limit simple carbs
Avoid products sweetened with sugar and limit your consumption of simple carbs, such as white bread, pasta, and white rice, which have low levels of fiber.

TIP: Fish, flax seed, walnuts, and other nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy for your heart.