Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to celebrate the abundance in our lives – friends, family, community and of course, food. Favorite foods and tempting treats are interwoven with the holiday season. The temptation to overeat seems unavoidable with homemade pies, hot rolls and scrumptious dishes before us. I find having a tool that reminds me about healthy eating guidelines to be very helpful! One of my favorite tools is from ChooseMyPlate.gov. This visual reminder shows how to ‘design’ my eating style so it follows the recommended balance between fruit, vegetable, grains, protein foods, and dairy groups. Here are some key points from ChooseMyPlate.gov:
Balance Your Calories
- Enjoy your food, but eat less.
- Avoid oversized portions.
Foods to Increase
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
- Make at least half your grains whole grains.
- Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
Foods to Reduce
- Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals and choose the foods with lower numbers.
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
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