One of the key building blocks to a healthy lifestyle is a well-balanced diet. To many, that means cutting out the unhealthy snacks and “eating right” during the main meals. But what does eating right mean? While it means different things to different people, most will agree on the following three components:

Fresh ingredients: This means eating meals made from fresh vegetables, meats, and other ingredients in order to maximize nutrients and minimize preservatives. To do this, you should avoid processed and packaged food, as they contain significantly more preservatives and fewer nutrients than fresh ingredients.
Balanced meals: This means your diet should contain the right portions from all the major food groups. Many people ignore certain groups (ahem — fruits and vegetables), and that may lead to a deficiency in certain nutrients that you can only get from those food groups. So eat your veggies!
Portion control: Eating too much often leads to unhealthy side effects. Did you know that the Canada Food Guide recommends 5 – 7 1/2 ounces of meat or meat alternatives in a day? Most people eat significantly more than that, not because they need to, but just because they’re used to those portion sizes. Try cutting down on your meat consumption and fill up on sides like vegetables and starches instead.

For more information on healthy eating or to download your own copy of the guide please visit the Canada Food Guide.