What is a "Healthy Diet"?
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Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products;
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Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and
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Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars
What Should I Eat?
- Consume a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables
while staying within energy needs. Two cups of
fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables per day
are recommended for a reference 2,000-calorie
intake, with higher or lower amounts depending
on the calorie level.
- Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables each
day. In particular, select from all five vegetable
subgroups (dark green, orange, legumes, starchy
vegetables, and other vegetables) several times
a week.
- Consume 3 or more ounce-equivalents of whole-grain
products per day, with the rest of the recommended
grains coming from enriched or whole-grain products.
In general, at least half the grains should come
from whole grains.
- Consume 3 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat
milk or equivalent milk products.