
For you and your family to get all the
nutrients needed by the body, it's important for your meals to have all the
basic food groups (bread and grains, fruits and vegetables, meat and legumes,
milk and dairy products).
To
help you choose the right foods, we present you with a simple list of healthy
food choices and others to avoid for better health:
Meat:
o Choose
lean white meat like chicken and fish more often than red meat
o Replace
lamb with lean beef or veal after you remove the visible fat
o When
serving chicken, remove the skin and try to serve the chicken breast instead of
the chicken thigh
o Serve
sources of vegetable proteins like lentils, beans and chickpeas which have high
nutritional value.
Fats:
o Reduce
intake of fast foods which are loaded with unhealthy fats, as well as processed
and smoked meat
o Avoid
using ghee and butter, and use a variety of vegetable oil instead.
Cereals and starches:
o Choose
whole grain cereals like whole wheat, brown bread, brown rice and whole wheat
pasta more often because they are rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins.
Milk and dairy products:
o Replace
regular products with low-fat versions. This way you will get the same
nutritional value without the fat.
Vegetables and fruits:
o Serve a
variety of fresh vegetables and fruits every day. Use frozen vegetables as
well, since they retain their nutritional value.
Sugars:
o Replace
processed sugars with its natural form found in fruits as much as possible.
Good to Remember:
Serve a wide variety
of fruits and vegetables; the more variety, the more nutrients. Make sure you
don’t peel fruits and vegetables as the outer layer is rich in healthy fibers.