Eat to Thrive

March 28, 2016

by Mankato Clinic

You’re not alone if you feel like nearly every week there’s a new fad diet or conflicting advice on butter, red wine and the importance of chocolate. But, when you break it down, healthy eating is simple: eat to thrive, leaving yourself feeling better at the end of your meal than when you started.

The most simple advice you can get when it comes to healthy eating is to not focus on what you shouldn’t eat, but work on what you should. Making smaller changes in your diet will help lead you to bigger, healthier changes in the future. As a consumer, try not to look at food as good and bad. Focusing on a restricted way to eat only makes us want it that much more.

Each meal and snack of your day should contain fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low or non-fat dairy. The USDA recommends the five food groups to be used as building blocks for a healthy diet.

When it comes to learning how to eat healthy, don’t let it overwhelm you. Instead, look at it as a heathy choice to help your body not feel deprived of the nutrients it needs to thrive.