It is common knowledge that healthy eating and fitness of the body is the secret to good health and longevity. But, due to our hectic lifestyles, we often ignore this simple truth and end up feeling tired with hardly any energy to make it through the day. But if you truly wish to change this bad situation for the better, there is hope. There are a number of ways in which you can fit healthy eating in your busy schedule and undo years of self-indulgence.

An unbalanced diet or one deficient in essential nutrients will make you feel weak, lethargic and reduce your performance to below par. Healthy eating and fitness go hand-in-hand. Nutritionists will tell you that you must eat right to look and feel healthy as well as have the energy to lead an active lifestyle. They will also tell you that a portion control diets is the key to reclaiming your health and to do this you must eat a variety of foods from the different food groups. Your daily diet should include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and dairy products, meats, poultry and eggs.

Fitness depends on healthy eating and daily food planner to get the right nutritional value from food you must follow a diet that is rich in fiber. Select foods that have high fiber content like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Your diet should also be low in fats and cholesterol, so go easy on the cheese, butter and margarine. Instead, choose low-fat dairy products and use unsaturated fats like olive and canola oil in your cooking. Meats are a great source of protein but ensure that you eat lean meats so that you don’t consume unwanted fats.

Healthy eating is what fitness is all about and your daily trips to the fast food joint would obviously have to happen no more than once a month. Food from restaurants and takeaways is high in sodium, saturated fats and low in fiber – not a healthy diet if you wish to keep fit. Healthy eating and healthy eating guide also means limiting your sodium and sugar intake as well as taking alcoholic drinks in moderation. Above all, drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses a day) to keep your body hydrated. Water also helps to move the nutrients throughout your body and flush out the toxins.

The first step to daily healthy eating plans involves a change in food as well as eating behavior. Don’t skip meals – eat three large meals and a couple of mini meals each day. Most of us tend to skip breakfast which is the most important meal of the day. A good healthy eating breakfast increases the metabolism and gives you the energy to start off your day. Also, eating a series of meals through the day ensures that your stomach is not empty, thus preventing you from overeating at meal time.

Serving sizes of food to be assimilated well it is necessary to take time to enjoy your food, so eat and chew slowly. Eating food in the right quantity with the help of meal portion plates is an essential part of healthy eating and in turn, fitness. Watch those portions or better still, use portion control plates and scoopers to make it easier to get the right amount of essential nutrients the body needs.

Healthy eating should be balanced with exercise to achieve fitness of the body as well as the mind. Making a conscious effort to eat healthy foods for a healthy diet and being disciplined enough to exercise at least twice or thrice a week will help with your fitness program as well as your weight management program.

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