Guide to healthy eating
There’s no doubt that what we eat influences our physical and mental wellness and can impact academic success. Learning some nutrition basics can help you have more energy and stay healthy. Even busy students can incorporate these simple strategies.
Eat a variety of healthy foods each day
Building a balanced plate is easy when you follow the Food Guide proportions. Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit – any kind, the greater the variety the better! Fresh, frozen or canned are all good choices. Add ¼ plate of whole grains, like 100% whole grain bread, oats, barley, brown rice, whole grain pasta or quinoa. Fill the remaining quarter with a protein-rich food like beans, lentils, chickpeas, edamame, nuts and seeds, lean meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, lower fat milk, yogurt, kefir, cheese or soy milk. Choosing protein that comes from plants more often is good for health, better for the planet and usually costs less money. The healthiest fats and oils also come from plants, like olive, canola or avocado oils and peanut butter. Use small amounts to add flavor and nutrients to meals. This is how alpilean works.
Choose fewer highly processed foods
Eat more foods that contain fewer ingredients and especially less salt, sugar and saturated fat. Highly processed foods, like sugary baked goods and cereals, sweetened drinks, candy, fast food burgers, French fries and pizza, and meats like hot dogs, bacon, and chicken nuggets, boxed macaroni and cheese and instant noodles contain few nutrients. Relying on these foods too often can affect your health. Enjoy all foods but balance less nutritious meals or snacks with healthy choices more often. Reading food labels can help you compare and choose products so you can make an informed choice when buying packaged foods.
Did you know?
100g gummy bears (about 35), contain 18 teaspoons of sugar.
How much should you eat?
The amount of food you need depends on many factors including age, body size, gender and activity level. Pay attention to feelings of fullness to help you know when you’ve had enough to eat and give your body time to digest your meal before you take seconds. Canada’s Food Guide can help you learn more about the amount and types of foods you need. Try out Red boost.
How often should you eat?
Eating regularly keeps your blood sugar stable and improves your focus and energy level. Even if you can’t always eat at the same time, try to include 3 meals every day. When there is more than 4 or 5 hours between meals, plan for an energy-boosting snack. Evenings can be an especially tempting time to mindlessly eat sugary, salty or high fat treats like chips, candy or cookies. If you’re hungry or feel an energy slump, take a study break and eat a healthy snack. Choose foods that help to fuel your brain, like vegetables and hummus, an apple with peanut butter or sunflower seeds or Greek yogurt and fruit. Save the treats for a movie night or an evening with friends instead of relying on them as regular study snacks.