The world of eating man

Most health experts recommend that you eat a balanced, healthy diet to maintain or to lose weight. But exactly what is a healthy diet? It should include: Protein (found in fish, meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs, nuts, and beans) Fat (found in animal and dairy products, nuts, and oils) Carbohydrates (found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans and other legumes) Vitamins (such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K) Minerals (such as calcium, potassium, and iron) Water (both in what you drink, and what's naturally in foods) Dieting or not, everyone needs a mix of those nutrients, ideally from foods. A good general rule is to use MyPlate, which makes it easy to envision just how much of each food type to include in your meal. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Split the other half between whole grains and lean protein. Stick to your calorie “budget,” because when you're working on losing weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat or drink. Exactly how many calories you should get per day depends on your goal, your age, your sex, and how active you are. A dietitian can help you figure that out. Don't cut your calories too much, or your diet is going to be hard to stick with and may not give you the nutrients your body needs.