Introduction
Being a nurse is a very exciting career choice. Nurses save peoples' lives and promote good health. What kind of advice would nurses give in relation to food consumption? It is assumed that professionals so closely tied to direct healthcare would be very knowledgeable in relation to day-to-day health.
The following article delivers tips relating to healthy eating.
Nutrient rich foods
There are over 40 different nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet. Nurses say daily food selections are to include whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, and other high-protein foods.
Whole Foods
Nurses still going to school know that it is hard to eat healthy while being a student, professional, or both. People should ingest 3 servings of foods such as bread, rice, cereal, and pasta per day. 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables of are recommended.
Your weight
Excess body fat increases chances of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other illnesses. Losing too much weight and being too thin is not a healthy way to live either. Nurses urge those who struggle with excess weight or experience shifts in weight to contact a dietician. Regular exercise is a vital part of living a healthy life.
Portions
Eating appropriately sized portions is important. Serving sizes are smaller than most might think. Nurses state that a recommended serving size of meat is 3 ounces (the size of a deck of cards). A mid-sized piece of fruit if considered one serving and a cup of pasta is equal to 2 servings.
Eat regularly
Not eating regularly leads to over and under-eating. Nurses say that consuming four moderately sized portions of food per day is healthy. It is difficult balancing work, school, and life; but it is a necessity. Don't skip meals, but don't eat in between meals to the point where it becomes a meal in itself.
Be fair to yourself
People eat for pleasure as well as for sustenance. You don't need to completely starve yourself of fatty foods that you enjoy, but be conservative with the amounts consumed. Don't entirely eliminate them from your diet, just be selective of how many times and how much you indulge.
It is not easy to be perfect
Nurses are not perfect all the time either. It is difficult to eat the perfect meal every time you sit down to dine. Forget about being impeccable. Think about eating a balanced diet. If you eat a meal high in fat for lunch, counter it with a dinner that is low in fat. If you skimp on your fruits and veggies one day, make up for it the next day.
Think about it
Take a week and write down all of the things you eat and the times you eat them. Analyze what you are eating and look for areas that may be unhealthy. Concentrate on replicating those times in the week when you are eating healthy and modify the points in the week when you are eating unhealthy.
Baby bites
Changing habits is not easy. Start to gradually address your diet concerns. Going too quickly does not come with success.
Seek balance
Don't buy into words such as "good" and "bad." It is a fact that some foods are more healthy than others, but people need food. If you eat foods that are not as healthy for you, then make sure you balance your diet by eating foods that are overwhelmingly healthy for you and eat more of them.
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