Health Tips A to Z

You may be wolfing down a whole stack of Thanksgiving leftovers (cold Turducken, anyone?), but remember that eating a balanced plate is important for your health. This means a full variety of foods, not just a dollop of cranberry sauce on the side. Eating a balanced plate keeps a variety of foods in your body and ensures that you get all the nutrients you need to function properly.

Here are some tips for a balanced lunch and dinner plate:

* Use a 9-inch plate
* Fill a QUARTER of the plate with starches, like potatoes, rice, pastas, or dry cooked beans.
* Fill a QUARTER of the plate with a protein. The best choices are lean meats, fish, poultry, low-fat cheeses or legumes prepared without oils or fats.
* Fill the remaining HALF of the plate with non-starch vegetables, such as green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, or broccoli.
* Side dishes could include a serving of fruit or yogurt.
* For breakfast, the protein and vegetables are optional. Don’t worry about adding any carrots to your bowl of cereal, but some blueberries might be nice.

If you served yourself only a plate full of turkey leftovers, then you’d need two more plates of veggies just to balance out the portions correctly! So keep that plate balanced to begin with, and you’ll have a recipe for good nutrition.

Did you know that the food pyramid is not one-size-fits-all? The Health Promotion Office can provide you with your own personalized food pyramid; just stop by and ask to speak to our nutrition health educator. You can also learn more about nutrition and get a personalized food pyramid at www.mypyramid.gov.