Why to choose Healthy Nutrition?

Posted on by Tamara Alexander

Throughout our lives, healthy food is necessary to optimise growth, development and general health.

A healthy diet is important for maintaining a healthy, dynamic and productive population. It is increasingly difficult to make wise food choices due to various economic, physical and social factors that influence the availability and accessibility of food, as well as people’s ability to make healthy choices.

Healthy eating means eating a variety of nutritious foods to feel good and maintain good health. Good nutrition and activity can also reduce your risk of disease and help you achieve – and maintain – a healthy body weight.

How to eat healthily?

Healthy eating is about much more than the food you eat. It’s about how you eat, where and when you eat, and why you eat.

Follow these steps to help you eat healthily:

Be aware of your eating habits.

  • Take the time to eat
  • Learn to recognise when you’re hungry or full
  • Cook more often
  • Plan what you are going to eat
  • Involve others in meal planning and preparation
  • Enjoy your food
  • Cultural and food traditions can be an integral part of healthy eating
  • Enjoy your meals in good company
  • Healthy food choices

Get into the habit of eating a variety of healthy foods every day.

Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, whole grains and protein foods. Choose plant-based protein foods more often.

  • Choose foods containing good fats instead of saturated fats.
  • Limit highly processed foods. If you do choose them, eat them less often and in smaller quantities.
  • Use ingredients that contain little or no added sodium, sugars or saturated fats to prepare your meals or snacks.
  • When you go out to eat, choose healthier foods.
  • Make water your drink of choice.
  • Replace sugary drinks with water.
  • Use food labels.
  • Stay alert to food marketing. It can influence your choices.

Healthy hydration

Drinking water regularly throughout the day is the best way to stay hydrated, especially in hot weather or during physical activity. Although water is the best choice for staying hydrated, fruit, vegetables and milk also contain plenty of water and are healthy choices.

Our bodies lose water through perspiration, breathing and the evacuation of waste products. If you lose more fluid than you take in, you become dehydrated. You have to replace what is lost. Young children and the elderly are at greater risk of dehydration.

Water is a healthy, calorie-free way to stay hydrated. It helps your body function in a number of ways:

  • By maintaining your body temperature;
  • Helping to break down food so your body can absorb nutrients;
  • By helping to eliminate waste products;
  • By acting as a cushion between cells, muscles and joints;
  • Maintaining ‘regular’ bowel movements.
  • Here are a few tips to keep you and your family hydrated and healthy:

Make water your drink of choice:

  • Carry a reusable water bottle when you’re out and about.
  • Drink water hot or cold.
  • Ask for water with your meal when eating out.
  • Don’t keep sugary drinks at home.
  • Keep a jug of water in the fridge.
  • Drink water with your meals.
  • Bring sliced fruit as a snack to sporting events.
  • Add slices of fresh fruit or herbs to your water to give it extra flavour.
  • Set an example by choosing healthy drinks in front of your children.

Offer healthy beverage options other than water, including:

  • White milk (unsweetened, lower-fat milk)
  • Unsweetened fortified vegetable drinks, such as soy beverages
  • Unsweetened coffee and tea

Conclusion

A varied and balanced diet, combined with regular physical activity, gives a feeling of well-being and helps to maintain good health. This is because food :

  • provide the energy the body needs to function on a daily basis ;
  • enable the body to develop, strengthen and evolve.

That’s why it’s important to watch what you eat, both in terms of quantity and quality.