FOODS - NUTRITION - DIETING

INTRODUCTION

Food is what powers our bodies. It is the source of everything our bodies need to function and stay healthy. Vitamins, minerals, calories, oils, many other things our bodies use to feed our cells, muscles, brain functions, organs. When we eat our bodies convert the food, through digestion, into the materials that feed all of these functions.

Food can be broken into food groups: meats & alternatives, fruits & vegetables, breads & cereals, milk & dairy products. Of course, there are plenty of other foods we eat that do not fit nicely into these categories, but the major four are a good way to look at it. Using these categories, dietitians typically recommend varying amounts of foods from each, usually in the range of:
Meats & Alternatives: 2-4 per day
Fruits & Vegetables: 5-10 per day
Breads & Cereals: 6-8 per day
Milk & Dairy Products: 4-6 per day
This is a good, simple way to force variety into your diet, since overloading on foods from a single or only 2 categories can limit the vitamins and minerals you consume.

Home - PAGE 1 of 6 - NEXT: Types of Foods

 

Change One

Dean Ornish