Healthy Eating

You generally learn about healthy eating when you become unwell, sluggish or over weight; when your daily diet is not nutritious enough for your lifestyle.

If you are not having much exercise but eating lots of foods full of energy, the unused energy becomes fat. If you are drinking too little water, you become dehydrated. Etc..
Healthy eating is when your diet suits your lifestyle and body. Not everyone needs the same amounts of the various food categories, but everyone needs all food categories.

By eating a variety of fresh foods which are not processed, like fruits, fresh vegetables which you eat as salads, and whole grain cereals, your body remains healthier than if you eat the same foods processed or refined.
Raw or fresh, unprocessed foods are digested more slowly into the body, in the process extracting more goodness from the food. The food is satisfying, and you do not quickly feel hungry.
Eating regular meals is also more satisfying for your body than eating irregularly or infrequently.
Balanced proportions of fresh and healthy processed foods in your diet, you can create a healthy diet which is satisfying and makes you feel healthy.

The benefits of healthy eating are many and important for a healthy body and happy life:

It gives you energy the whole day.

Eating regular meals, 3 daily, is healthy eating, because your body does not feel the need to go into starvation mode.

Eating healthy foods helps you to maintain a healthy weight for your body type.   

A healthy diet automatically ensures you get the minerals and vitamins your body needs.

If you are still growing, healthy eating helps you reach your natural maximum height.  

A healthy diet also prevents you feeling like eating unhealthy foods, skipping meals, or feeling very hungry at meal times, which leads to overeating.

A healthy diet means eating when you are hungry and until you are full.

Lastly, healthy eating keeps your body strong, so you are physically fit for activities and sports.

Healthy Food Categories

There are seven food categories which are essential daily in order to continually nourish your body and to be eating a really healthy diet:

Carbohydrate

Fat and Oil

Fibre

Protein

Minerals

Vitamins

Water

Minerals and vitamins are micronutrients (you need small amounts in your diet), the other categories are macronutrients (you need lots in your diet).

Healthy eating means each day you need to eat foods from all of the food groups.

Carbohydrates are present in grains such as cereals, breads and rice.

Oils and fats are found in nuts, olive oil, avocadoes etc.

Fibres are found in fruits and vegetables (including legumes).

Proteins are found mainly in meats.

Minerals and vitamins are found across the above categories.

Water is present in most foods also, but you need extra water, because your body uses water in just about every process.

(An instance of only one body process is:  Chewing food > swallowing> digestion > expelling waste food... each process involves lots of water.)

Nutrient rich foods can be balanced with small amounts of other foods such as fast foods and sugary foods.

But remember to use up the extra energy you eat!

Summary

Eating foods unhealthy for your body will lead to underweight, overwight, lack of energy, and can lead to disease.

Healthy eating gives your body what is essential for a healthy life.