Making healthy food choices a priority can help take your health into your own hands and live life to the fullest! Feeding your body vital nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight can help you remain independent and active for years to come. We know that consistent healthy eating is not easy, and that is why we designed our Nsight platform to make tracking your food and exercise intuitive. Regardless, healthy eating is not a one-size-fits-all strategy, and your needs will continue to evolve with age, health status, and chronic illness factors. We have compiled a list of tips to help you make healthier choices for years to come; as always, we recommend that you reach out to your health coach for any personalized health needs.
Eat a variety of colorful food
Keeping a colorful plate is a foolproof way to make sure you are getting a variety of micronutrients. According to the CDC, only 1 and 10 adults eat enough fruits or vegetables, even though eating produce is an effective way to reduce the risk of serious illness. When planning your diet, you should start by thinking about what you can add to your plate, not what you should take away. Let’s say Alfredo pasta is your favorite meal — instead of removing this dish from your diet altogether, try adding a serving of broccoli to it to bulk up the meal’s fiber and satiety factor.
Choose whole, unprocessed foods
It is okay to go for your favorite processed foods every once in a while, but sticking to a predominantly whole foods diet will help you to avoid additives, as well as excess salt and sugar. A good tip to follow is to shop the perimeter of your grocery store, where the whole fruits and veggies, meat, and dairy reside. This will help you avoid processed snacks and pre-made meals; but remember, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while!
Stay hydrated
Water is the most important nutrient there is, so don’t let staying hydrated fall to the wayside. Not only is hydration important for exercise performance, but it promotes healthy digestion, as well as tissue, spinal cord, and joint health. Water can also help you maintain a healthy weight. As you age, your sense of thirst may be affected, so it is important that you are consuming liquids, regardless of whether or not you feel thirsty.
Season with herbs and spices Your sense of taste may also be affected as you age, so it may be tempting to heavily salt your foods. Unfortunately, consuming excess sodium can put you at risk of high blood pressure, which can ultimately lead to a slew of adverse health consequences. Herbs and spices are packed with flavor and can stand in for salt in your dishes — some, like turmeric, even have anti-inflammatory properties.
Eat a high fiber diet
Eating fiber is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. It has been proven to lower cholesterol, control blood sugar, and even increase lifespan. The risk for serious health conditions increases as you age, so eating high-fiber foods grows in importance the older you get. Try topping your breakfast with whole-grain cereal and fruit for an extra fiber boost! Check out this list to find out what foods are naturally high in fiber.
We hope you found these nutrition tips helpful, and that you are motivated to start making healthier choices with your diet and overall health. Healthy eating is not about a crash diet, nor heavy restriction; it is about making simple, sustainable changes that will last you a lifetime. At Nsight, we empower you to take your health into your own hands, and maintaining a healthy diet is one of the best ways you can achieve this. As always, we encourage you to reach out to your Nsight health coach to come up with a unique plan personalized to your health needs.
