Nutrition

The consumption of excess energy leads to weight gain. Very simply, if you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. However, the type of foods that you eat is just as important as how many calories you consume. Limiting fat, sweetened drinks and restaurant foods, consuming more dietary fiber, eating breakfast, and eating more fruits and vegetables will greatly improve your diet.

One of the best ways to see what your diet is really like is by keeping a food journal. Write down everything that you eat each day for one week. Look back over the journal and compare it with the tips below. What do you need to change?

Quick Nutrition Tips

• Eat breakfast!

• Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

• Watch your portion size. (You don’t have to clean your plate!)

• Don’t skip meals. Eat small, frequent meals, instead.

• Avoid packaged, processed foods, when possible.

• Avoid sugary drinks. Try to drink water.

• Make at least half your grains whole. (Whole-wheat bread, brown or wild rice.)

• Keep a food journal.

Helpful Links

Dole 5 A Day