Page 71 - project_booklet

P A R T 4
Changing eating habits

To improve your eating habits, it's best to make small lifestyle changes that you can keep doing over time.
How can you change your eating habits? To eat a healthy diet, you may need to make some changes such
as eating more fruit and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meat, fish or poultry. Remember that
you can change your eating habits a little bit at a time. Small changes are easier to make and can lead to
permanent changes that improve your health.
You don't need to make huge changes to eat healthier. And you don't have to change your habits all at the
same time. It's best to set small goals and change your habits a little bit at a time. Over time, small changes
can make a big difference in your health.
This information will help you make useful changes for healthy eating:
- Changing your eating habits and your environment can help you eat healthier foods.
- A healthy diet is good for your overall health. It also can help you reach a healthy weight and stay there.
- To improve your eating habits, it's best to make small lifestyle changes that you can keep doing over time.
Here are some ways to make healthy changes in your eating habits:
- Keep more fruits, low-fat dairy products (low-fat milk and low-fat yogurt), vegetables, and whole-grain
foods at home and at work. Focus on adding healthy food to your diet, rather than just taking unhealthy
foods away.
- Try to eat a family meal every day at the kitchen or dining table. This will help you focus on eating healthy
meals.
- Pack a healthy lunch and snacks for work. This lets you have more control over what you eat.
- Put your snacks on a plate instead of eating from the package. This helps you control how much you eat.
- Don't skip or delay meals, and be sure to schedule your snacks. If you ignore your feelings of hunger, you
may end up eating too much or choosing an unhealthy snack. If you often feel too hungry, it can cause you
to focus a lot on food.
- Eat your meals with others when you can. Relax and enjoy your meals, and don't eat too fast. Try to make
healthy eating a pleasure, not a chore.
- Drink water instead of high-sugary drinks like ice teas, sports drinks and high-sugar juice drinks. As we get
older we often do not feel thirsty, but our body still needs fluids. Make sure you drink enough water each
day to stay hydrated.

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