HEALTHY EATING PRINCIPLES

Plant based Diet :

* Simply put, eat mostly plants
* No matter what type of diet you follow — including those that incorporate dairy, meat and/or seafood — eat more plants, like raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, legumes and beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains
* Eat a colorful variety of plants to ensure you're getting the best nutrients for your body, which leads to feeling satiated

Real food

* Choose foods that are whole, fresh, natural, organic, local, seasonal and unprocessed
* Eliminate the consumption of refined, highly processed foods and foods void of nutrients, such as artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats

Low fat

* Get your healthy fats from plant sources, such as nuts and avocados
* Minimize extracted oils and processed fats
* If eating a diet that includes animal products, choose leaner meats and seafood as well as low-fat dairy products

Nutrient dense

* Choose foods that are rich in nutrients when compared to their total caloric content; also known as foods with a high nutrient density
* Build your menus around plant-based foods to ensure highly nutrient-dense meals
* Choose foods with a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants

What Exactly is Health Food ?

It really is a shame that we would even need to use the term "health food".
Shouldn't all food be considered healthy ?

The Definition of Health Food :
Health food is used to describe any food that is considered to be healthy, or it can mean specific foods claimed to be especially beneficial to health. "Health food" is not precisely defined by the USDA or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Health foods are not necessarily organic foods.

Specific health food claims

A common definition of "health food" is a food that acts like a medicine, providing specific favorable effects on health. Purported examples of health foods include alfalfa or broccoli sprouts, wheat germ, and yogurt. In general, these claims of health benefits have not been evaluated by the FDA. Health foods are sold in health food stores or in the health/organic section of supermarkets.

In the United States, the term is often used for foods that are low in fat and/or sugar, since over consumption of fatty and sugary foods is seen as contributing to the obesity epidemic.