Healthy Daily Menu

Eating disorders that can range from binge eating to compulsive eating to anorexia, as well as eating the wrong types of foods are detrimental to the functioning of a healthy body.



Thus it is essential that our daily menu consist of food that nourishes us with the daily essential requirements of vitamins and minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fiber and fat.

A healthy balance of different food groups must form the basis of a well-planned daily menu. While there is a range of healthy daily menu plans available, nutritional variety in food is vital to a vitalized body. Especially since every individual’s nutritional requirements vary at various stages in life.



Besides chronic ailments and debilitating diseases can drastically alter your daily vitamin and mineral needs. In addition, pregnancy, food allergies, cultural background, religious and personal preferences also restrict one’s food choices.
You must be aware of your body’s vitamin and mineral requirements as well as the nutritional values of the food choices you make prior to selecting a daily food menu. To ensure that you are following a balanced diet, make sure that:

1.



Your food choices originate from the five main food groups viz. fruits, vegetables, cereals and pulses, dairy, poultry, fish and meat products.

2.



Since our body requires over 40 nutrients including vitamins, minerals, water, protein, carbohydrates and fats; it is important that we eat a variety of foods especially within vegetables and across the food groups. For example while vegetables like capsicum provide us with Vitamin C, spinach is rich in iron; both foods from the same food group but catering to different nutritional needs.

3. Your diet ensures that your Body Mass Index (BMI) is within the recommended range.

4.



You follow low fat recipes, eating foods that are low in saturated and trans fat.

5. Sugar, oil and alcoholic beverage consumption is restricted.

6.



Your food has low sodium content

The means used to grow, store and prepare food also plays an important in enhancing or depleting the nutritional value of the food. For instance overcooking and frying negate the sustaining power of food.