Why is it important to eat nutritious foods? Food nutrition is a key element in maintaining our overall physical well being.

We must always pay attention to the foods that we eat because they will eventually impact our health, for better or for worst. We have more information available about the benefits of every particular food group than weve ever had before, which is why we also have a bigger responsibility than ever before to make assertive and responsible food choices. Nutrition is required for growth of our body and to remain healthy. Good nutrition, besides making you feel better, prevents the three major killers: heart disease, diabetes and cancer. It can also prevent or treat Alzeimers, digestive problems, ADHD, hormone imbalance, sexual dysfunction, obesity, epilepsy, autism, cavities, and osteroporosis, to name a few. Nutrition is vital. The better you eat, the longer and better you will live. The right practice of eating habits will be by having good eating habits is a way for you to get the right nutrition needed by your body. There are some things that you have to avoid and some things that you have to do in order to practice good eating habits. Sometimes, it takes a little sacrifice to achieve the results that we want. Here are some of the good eating habits that you can practice to improve your health. Eat your meals regularly. Habit of skipping meals is actually not a good idea. By skipping your meals, you can be hungrier and eat more for your next meal. Not having regular meal times can also decrease a persons metabolism. Eat a variety of foods. To have a good meal means having the right balance of nutrient rich foods. No single food can provide all the nutrients that the body needs, so it is important to have a combination of different food types in each meal. Some of the essential foods that you have to eat are grain products, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products and fish. You can ask the help of a nutritionist to help you with the correct portions to eat based on your weight and height. Reduce, do not eliminate. Changing habits does not necessarily mean totally eliminating foods like chocolates and junk food. You do not have to deprive yourself of your comfort foods, you just have to reduce your intake gradually until you see that you do not need to eat it as much as before. Eat slowly. One good idea to lessen your food intake is to eat slowly. Not only will you be enjoying the flavor of your food, you will also lessen your food intake. It takes approximately 20 minutes before your brain tells you that you are already full. By eating slowly, you wont be stuffing your stomach and over eating and you will still feel full. Do not eat late at night. Eating late at night before sleeping will not allow you to burn the calories that you took in. You can eat more during the daytime as you do activities that will help you eliminate the fat. If you are hungry after dinner, you should just have a small snack and remember not to sleep as soon as you finish eating.

Avoid emotional eating. In some cases, our emotions can get in the way and this influences our eating habits. Some people start bingeing, especially if they have negative emotions. To avoid this, you must know how to deal with your feelings so that you do not transfer the negative energy to binge eating. These are some of the good feeding habits that you can follow. You can learn more about good eating habits by getting some advice from your nutritionist. You can also get a sample menu that you can follow in order for you to get the best nutrition that your body needs. Eating a balanced diet means choosing a wide variety of foods and drinks from all the food groups. It also means eating certain things in moderation, namely saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, refined sugar, salt and alcohol. The goal is to take in nutrients you need for health at the recommended levels. You can expand your range of healthy food choices and learn how to plan ahead to create and maintain a tasty, healthy diet. All the food we eat can be divided into five groups. Try to choose a variety of different foods from the first four groups which is Fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Fruit and vegetables are a vital source of vitamins and minerals. It's advised
that we eat five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day. There's evidence that people who eat at least five portions a day are at lower risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

Carbohydrates are starchy foods should make up around one third of everything

we eat. This means we should base our meals on these foods. Potatoes are an excellent choice of a starchy food and a good source of fibre. Leave the skins on where possible to keep in more of the fibre and vitamins. For example, when having boiled potatoes or have a jacket potato, eat the skin too. Try to choose wholegrain or whole meal varieties of starchy foods, such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta and brown whole meal bread.

Proteins are all good sources of protein, which is essential for growth and repair of

the body. They are also good sources of a range of vitamins and minerals. Meat is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and B vitamins. It is also one of the main sources of vitamin B12. Fish is another important source of protein, and contains many vitamins and minerals. Oily fish is particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Eggs and pulses (including beans, nuts and seeds) are also great sources of protein. Nuts are high in fibre and a good alternative to snacks high in saturated fat, but they do still contain high levels of fat, so eat them in moderation. Milk and dairy foods such as cheese and yoghurt are good sources of protein. They also contain calcium, which helps to keep your bones healthy.

Fats and sugar are both sources of energy for the body, but when we eat too much

of them we consume more energy than we burn, and this can mean that we put on weight. This can lead to obesity. Saturated fat is found in foods such as cheese, sausages, butter, cakes, biscuits and pies. It can raise your blood cholesterol

level and increase your risk of heart disease. Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, can help to lower cholesterol and provide us with the essential fatty acids needed to help us stay healthy. We must take care of our health, we must seek to achieve and maintain a strong, flexible and vital physique. We cannot emphasize enough the positive benefits that food nutrition and regular exercise have upon our emotional and physical well being. Adults should teach children healthy eating habits because when you learn something from a small age it becomes a custom and you are more likely to follow this custom for the rest of your life. Every human being is entitled to have basic needs met, including to have healthy food and enough food. When persons or families cannot, for any reason, provide their own needs, the community should try to help. The nutrients required for proper growth and development are obtained from eating a wide variety of foods. However, many people in developed and developing countries do not have access to either enough food or a variety of food essential to maintain daily nutritional requirements. Some people experience poor access to safe water and food due to their geographical location and climate conditions, while others have little money to support their food needs and that of their families. Moreover, some individuals within our own society, certain immigrants in new countries, and those living within developing countries may lack the nutritional knowledge necessary to enable access to foods. Unfortunate group includes rural and isolated people , people on low incomes or unemployed , homeless people , women and children , people with disabilities, the elderly, aboriginal and Indigenous people and chronically ill people. Well-managed food aid clearly benefits people and communities suffering a shortage of food, which can occur as a consequence of natural disasters, environmental problems and conflict. Food aid comes in many forms, but mostly it is either shipped from country to country or paid for by the donor and purchased locally. Food aid is often facilitated through international bodies, such as the World Food Program (WFP) who are the worlds principal multilateral channel for food aid. Closer to home, non-governmental organisations give directly to those countries and communities to whom they offer support. Food is an important part of religious observance for many different faiths and religious belief, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The role of food in cultural practices and religious beliefs is complex and varies among individuals and communities. If you are providing hospitality to people from different backgrounds, always serve a selection of vegetarian and meat foods on separate trays. A variety of non-alcoholic drinks should also be available. Muslims has various food restrictions according to their own dietary laws, which are Halal. As similar to other religions, it would be advisable to enquire as to what restrictions the guest has. Carnivorous animals are not permitted. All pork and pork products are totally forbidden. Sea animals which do not have fins or scales are considered undesirable

by some Muslims. Alcohol in any form is not permitted. Permissible meat other than pork can be eaten only if it is prepared in the correct way (Halal). These products should be avoided by all Muslims, Lard, gelatine, Rennet, Whey, Vanilla extract (some vanilla extracts have over 50% alcohol). Utensils should be separate for Muslims. There should be no contamination of Halal and non Halal. Most Hindus do not eat meat ( strict Hindus are vegetarians) and none eat beef since the cow is sacred to them. Janam Ashtami celebrates the birth of Krishna, in August, Holi is the festival which celebrates the end of winter and arrival of spring. The Sikhs do not have many strict rules regarding food but many are vegetarians. Baisakhi Day in April celebrates the new year and is the day Sikhs are baptised into their faith. Strict Buddhists are vegetarians and their dishes vary since many live in India and China, where available foods will be different. Vesak in May is the festival to celebrate the life of the Buddha. Islam For most Christians, eating habits are not affected- though some will be vegetarians, usually for moral reason, and some will refrain from eating meat on Fridays. Some sects, for instance Mormons, have many rules and restrictions regarding eating and drinking, for sample complete abstinence from tea, coffee and alcohol and an emphasis on wholesome eating. Jewish dietary laws are known as Kashrut, and are among the most complex of all religious food practices. A Kosher kitchen is divided into separate sections one for dairy, meat and pareve. Different sets of utensils, pots, pans, plates, knives, chopping boards, one for meat and poultry and the other for dairy foods. If your kitchen is not normally used for kosher food, it would be well advised to source a local Kosher caterer to provide a certified kosher meal for the guest. They would provide Kosher utensils, cups, plates for the occasion. The meal can easily be re heated in an oven or microwave but must be keep covered so the guest can see the rabbinic certifications seal is intact. Many Jewish people practice some or all of these restrictions in various degrees. It would be best to inquire as to what if any restrictions they have. No pork, and shellfish. Fish is acceptable as long as it has fins and scales.All animals with split hooves and which chew the cud (including sheep and cows)Refrain from eating meat and dairy products at the same meal. No wine, unless its kosher wine.All meat has to be prepared by a qualified kosher butcher (SHOCHET). If meat was eaten in the same day, one must wait six hours before consuming any dairy products
Learning to eat nutritiously is not hard. The key is to: * Drink lots of water. * Go easy on the salt, sugar, alcohol, saturated fat and trans fat. * Eat a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, and whole-grain products. * Eat lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and low-fat dairy products.