How to Eat Properly

You probably always hear people talking about eating properly and eating healthier, but how exactly do you do that? If you want to improve your health and get your body feeling strong and not sluggish, follow the advice below to start eating properly!

Part One of Three:
Making Healthy Food Choices

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   Eat a balanced diet. Make sure you don't eat too much or eat things that will get you sick. Include a healthy balance of nutrient-rich carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and roots like potatoes. This will help make sure your body gets the right balance of the vital vitamins and minerals it needs in order to keep you strong and healthy. The recommended balance varies from diet plan to diet plan, and your ideal balance may be a little different from someone else's. However, some common options include:

   • Eat a diet of 30% vegetables (dark colored vegetables, such as spinach, are better) 20% fruit ( eat the ones with more nutritional value, such as pomegranates), 20% carbohydrates (starches like wheat, rice and oats), 20% protein (which is found in meat, beans, and legumes), and 10% dairy products.^[1]
   • Eating a diet of 80% carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and starches like wheat, rice, and corn, 10% protein (which is found in meat, beans, and legumes), and 10% fats.
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   Don't skip meals. Always eat breakfast, as this starts your metabolism going early in the morning (since it slows down at night because you haven't eaten anything for a while). You will also want to make sure to eat at regular intervals, to help make sure your body has the fuel it needs to run all day.
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   Don't drink chemicals masquerading as food. It is a good idea to drink water, juices, smoothies, teas, and the such. However, soda, cola, and drinks that look like they are made in a lab should definitely be avoided. Alcohol needs to be limited.
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   Eat fewer unhealthy fats and empty calories. Generally reduce the amount of unhealthy saturated and trans fats in your diet. These are found in foods like chips, margarine, oils and many boxed or frozen foods. Coconut oil is relatively the healthiest, but still not good.
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   Eat more nutrient rich foods. Try to focus on eating foods which deliver lots of vital nutrients to your body. These are foods rich in vitamins and minerals. You can try citrus fruits, dark greens like kale and spinach, grains like brown rice and quinoa, lean proteins like lentils and chickpeas.

Part Two of Three:
Eating the Right Amount

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   Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you're full, and avoid eating too much.Many people seem to think that people get hungry at about 9 AM, 12 noon, and again at 7 PM. While this may be a generally good schedule for eating, remember that you don't have to eat at mealtime if you're not hungry yet. You should also remember not to eat until you are full because food will not have gone down your digestive system yet, so you could be left feeling a bit nauseous. Also, if you are hungry between meals, go ahead and eat a meal. It's not good to starve yourself between meals: if you allow yourself to become too hungry, you'll just eat tons of quick easy garbage.
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   Eat better portion sizes. Remember that your stomach is about the size of your fist. Don't expect to stuff 10 times that amount of junk into it without negative consequences. However, if you eat lots of fruits, you should eat a lot, as you will have lots of energy and be vibrant throughout the day.

   • Don’t worry about how many calories you’re eating. After all, a cow can graze all day and not become obese! If you eat lots of dairy and meat, however, you will inevitably end up either starving or gaining weight. Eat lots of fruits and veggies!
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   Drink lots of water every day. This is very important. You may think you are hungry when, in fact, you are really just thirsty. It also makes your liver and kidney a lot happier. Try adding a slice of lemon, lime, or orange to your water for a great taste, and cucumber slices for an even crisper taste!

   • Eight 8 oz glasses of water are recommended for most adults, though some people need more and some people need less. However, unless your diet consists of crackers, you will get a lot of that water from foods. Drinking a lot at once will also be very ineffective for your body.