Background on Healthy Living     

1.Healthy Living

i.

Feel better today

The food and physical activity choices you make every day affect your health - how you feel today, tomorrow and in the future. The way to do it is:

• Make smart choices from every food group.
• Find your balance between food and physical activity.
• Get the most nutrition out of your calories.

Eating right and being physically active aren’t just a "diet" or a "program" ? they are the keys to a healthy lifestyle. Good habits will help you reduce your risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain cancers, and increase your chances for a longer life.

ii.

Find your balance between food and physical activity.

Becoming a healthier you isn't just about eating healthy?it's also about physical activity. Regular physical activity is important for your overall health and fitness. It also helps you control body weight by balancing the calories you take in as food with the calories you expend each day.

• Be physically active - for children and teens, 60 minutes may be appropriate - for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
• Increasing the intensity or the amount of time that you are physically active can have even greater health benefits and may be needed to control body weight. About 60 minutes a day may be needed to prevent weight gain.

iii.

Get the most nutrition out of your calories.

The number of calories that your body needs depends on your age, activity level, and whether you're trying to gain, maintain, or lose weight.* You could use up the entire amount on a few high-calorie items, but chances are you won't get the full range of vitamins and nutrients your body needs to be healthy.

Choose the most nutritionally rich foods you can from each food group each day?those packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients but lower in calories. Pick foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products more often.

* 2,000 calories is the value used as a general reference on the food label. But you can calculate your number at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.