Six Steps to a Healthier You

The wide range of nutrition advice out there is often complicated and overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be. Your answer to proper nutrition for a healthy lifestyle is simple and summarized in: Six Steps to a Healthier You.

The first step is to make a plan to eat better and move more often. Set yourself SMART goals to make this lifestyle change easier. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, rewarding, and have a timeframe.  Goals give you something to work towards, a way to achieve success, and keep you motivated along the way. 

Once your goals are in place, put your plan into action with the second step: achieving balance. A well-balanced diet and regular physical activity helps you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight and decrease your risk for health problems. Strive to achieve a balance between healthy eating and active living every day.

The third step is to watch your portion sizes. How much you eat is as important as what you eat. Because most people eat more than they think they do, consume portion sizes of both foods and beverages that are right for your body size, age, and activity level. Understanding portion sizes is important to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Step four is to eat more vegetables and fruits. A healthy diet contains five to ten servings of vegetables and fruits each day. They are naturally high in vitamins, minerals, fibre, and low in calories.  Make them a key source of your daily nutrition and add them to meals or have them as snacks. 

The fifth step is to choose more whole grains. Most people eat less than half the amount of fibre they need each day. Choosing whole grains, such as whole-wheat breads and high-fibre cereals helps you meet your fibre needs. By increasing your fibre intake, you reduce the risk of disease, such as colon cancer and heart disease.  Fibre also makes you feel full while controlling your blood cholesterol and blood sugar.

Step six is to prepare and choose healthy foods. When at the grocery store, read labels and choose foods that are higher in fibre and lower in fat and sugar. When preparing meals, use lower-fat cooking and baking methods. If you eat out often, choose foods that are prepared with healthy ingredients and lower fat.

The Six Steps to a Healthier You are simple, realistic, and based on expert evidence to improve health. Use these six steps as a starting point for living the healthiest life possible. Remember, making changes with small steps makes it easier to achieve your goals and improve your health.

Disclaimer
Reviewed by Alberta clinical experts. Brought to you by HealthLink Alberta. Copyright.
This material is designed for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction and/or treatment. For more health advice call Capital Health Link at 780-408-LINK (5465) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Alberta, call Toll-free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465)