Nutrition Basics

Your body needs the right vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to stay healthy. A healthy diet means that you are eating:

• Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products
• Seafood, poultry, lean meats, eggs, beans, peas, seeds, and nuts

Limit foods high in:

• Cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars
• Trans fats – Trans fats may be in foods like cakes, cookies, stick margarines, and fried foods.
• Saturated fats – These fats come from animal products like cheese, fatty meats, whole milk, and butter.
• Refined grains – Food products with refined grains include white bread, noodles, white rice, and flour tortillas.

Get a personalized Daily Food Plan to help you choose healthy foods. A healthy diet can keep your body strong and active. By making smart food choices and following the Nutrition Basics, you can help reduce your risk for:

• Heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Some cancers
• Bone loss