5. Make changes gradually. Just as there are no "super foods" or easy answers to a healthy diet, don't expect to totally revamp your eating habits overnight. Changing too much, too fast can get in the way of success. Begin to remedy excesses or deficiencies with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. For example, if you don't like the taste of skim milk, try low-fat. Eventually you may find you like skim, too.
4. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Do you eat from the bread, rice, and cereal and pasta group, 3 of which should be whole grains? Do you eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables? If you don't enjoy some of these at first, give them another chance. Look through cookbooks for tasty ways to prepare unfamiliar foods.
3. Variety of nutrient-rich foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all. Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. How much you should eat depends on your calorie needs. Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels as handy references.
2. Portion Control. If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving of cooked meat is 85grams, similar in size to a deck of playing cards. A medium piece of fruit is 1 serving and a cup of pasta equals 2 servings. 1 cup of ice cream contains 2 servings. Refer to the Food Guide Pyramid for information on recommended serving sizes.
1. Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals on small nutritious foods such as nuts can help curb your hunger.
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