Protein
Proteins are essential for the building and repair of body tissues. It plays a vital role in energy metabolism, growth, and development; combination with carbohydrates provides us with the necessary energy we need throughout the day. While it’s suggested that we eat a little more protein than what is recommended (6-12 ounces), it can be challenging to get all of this from one type of food. Try to incorporate some meat, dairy, and beans in your meal prepping plan throughout the week, so you don’t get stuck eating empty carbs.
Fats
Fats are essential in our diets, but it’s important to know where these fats are coming from. Eating the right type of fat will help you meet your daily needs while cutting down on bad saturated and trans fats. Unsaturated fat is typically in plant-based foods like nuts, seeds, fish, and avocados. Saturated fat is typically in animal products like meat and dairy. You should aim for around 10-20% of your daily calories to come from these good fats because they lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and metabolic syndrome.
Vitamins And Minerals
Most of the food we eat contains essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need for a healthy functioning metabolic system. Vitamins and minerals are important because they help deter chronic disease, which we can prevent by eating a balanced diet. Eating a wide variety of healthy foods is typically enough to meet your daily needs. However, if you are still worried about getting all the vitamins and minerals you need, it may be worth consulting your doctor for specific recommendations or taking a multivitamin.
Staying Hydrated
We all know that water is very important for our bodies, but it’s perhaps the easiest building block to forget when eating healthy. We need water to digest food properly, transport nutrients to cells, regulate body temperature, and protect brain function. When we don’t drink enough water, it can affect our concentration levels, moods, energy levels, weight loss goals, and digestion, leading to poor overall health. Try staying within the 8×8 rule where you drink eight glasses of water a day or two liters of water throughout the day. You can also add some slices of fruits in with it for some flavor and health benefits.
Conclusion
Incorporating these healthy building blocks is the foundation of a healthy diet. While it may be difficult, don’t get discouraged when you fall down. Like building a house, the foundation is essential to keeping everything together, and there’s no way around it. If you are having trouble, try starting small. Doing things like incorporating one of these building blocks into your life each week is a great way to work towards eating a healthy diet and living a healthier life!
