Are Fruits and Vegetables the Only Healthy Food Groups

Eating healthy for a good life is something we all know. But we find the though of eating just fruits and vegetables a little depressing. After all, isn’t this the only food group we keep hearing about every time we ask about what healthy food consists of. This is what this article is going to help you with.

There is no doubt that in the food guide pyramid for most nutritional food fruits and veggies are at the top. These provide the body with plenty of nutrients like minerals, vitamins and fiber. Moreover, they help fight diseases like cancer, tumor growth, adult blindness, Alzheimer’s and several types of infections. The wide variety available ensures that you get all the necessary nutrition you need along with a healthy body. We have all heard of the emphasis on eating a rainbow. This refers to the many colors of fruits and veggies, not just greens, that all have certain unique properties. Also they make tasty meals and snacks if used with a little creativity.

But at the same time, a person would get bored of living off just these. After all, we can’t all just become fruitarians (people who eat only fruits). We all crave for a little diversity. What I ask is, who is stopping you? Let’s try and clear some of the misconceptions people have about what constitutes healthy food.

Healthy food does not only mean fruits and vegetables. This is just one of the categories of nutritious food. There are others like nuts and seeds, whole grain, and non-fat dairy products. This may not seem a lot but once you start counting the foods that are available in these groups you would certainly change your mind.

Nuts and Seeds

These include soy nuts, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts and cashew nuts to name just a few. Some nuts and seeds may have high amounts of fat but then they are also rich in proteins. Protein being the main building block of our bodies is an essential nutrient. Despite having a high fat content, nuts and seeds are considered healthy foods and if taken in moderation can be very helpful in your body’s need for the right kind of fuel.

Whole Grain

Whole grain variety of foods like rice, pasta and bread is largely and easily available in supermarkets. Breakfast cereals also offer whole grain range of their product. Whole grain foods provide a lot of roughage and fiber making them very tempting for the digestive system.

Non-Fat Dairy Products

Here the choices again are numerous. Non-fat, low calorie versions of milk, cheese, butter and yogurt are commonly available and they taste great too. Try substituting regular butter with low-fat margarine and spread on a slice of whole wheat or bran bread for breakfast along with a fruit smoothie made with your favorite berries blended together with low-fat yogurt and skimmed milk. See what I am talking about? There is no need to feel deprived. You have as many choices as a person indulging in high-calorie junk food with the extra edge of your diet being healthier.
Besides all the above mentioned choices, you can also add white meat like turkey and chicken, seafood and fish, lentils, and legumes to your health conscious diet.

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