Eating a healthy lifestyle diet is important for overall health. Reducing fats, limiting sugary drinks and eating more fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
But changing your diet isn’t always easy. It can take time to bookmark recipes and shop for fresh ingredients.
Health Food Stores
When it comes to getting your family on a healthy lifestyle diet, you can find most of the items you need at a health food store. From organic produce to gluten-free snacks, these stores offer a wide variety of nutritious options.
Eating a well-balanced diet helps protect against malnutrition, obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To do so, make sure your meals include foods from each of the 5 food groups in recommended amounts. Avoid empty calories from sugary drinks, ice cream and processed meats by saving them as occasional treats.
A variety of online grocery services offer healthy products at lower prices. Thrive Market and Walmart+ InHome both deliver orders in two days for free and have large selections, while H-E-B’s Wellness hub offers expert-recommended recipes and dietary tips. Some require a subscription fee, but they may pay for themselves through discounts and bulk savings. Other services focus on specific categories, like Now Foods which sells supplements. Choose a service that fits your needs and budget. Be sure to check out delivery fees, order minimums and membership charges before you sign up.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market is a chain of natural-food supermarkets based in Austin, Texas. The store is known for its large selection of organic products and healthy alternatives to fast foods. It also offers online ordering and pickup. Whole Foods Market is owned by the Whole Foods Co-op.
A healthy lifestyle diet is a pattern of nutritious and wholesome food choices that work together to support health and well-being. It includes fruit, vegetables, dairy, grains and beans, nuts, fish, lean meats and poultry and healthy fats from plant or animal sources. The diet limits added sugars, saturated and trans fats, salt and sodium and highly processed foods.
When shopping for healthy options at a Whole Foods Market, it’s important to check out the label on each item. Look for a serving size at the top of the label, which indicates how many servings are in the package or container. Then, compare the serving size to the recommended calorie intake for your age and gender. You can also find out more about an item’s ingredients and nutrient content by reading the product’s nutrition facts panel.
Natural Grocery Stores
In addition to a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, clean foods often include whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. They are free of added sugars, salt and artificial ingredients. Many clean eating items can be found in regular supermarkets, but some require a visit to a natural grocer.
Registered dietitians suggest shopping with a list, which can help reduce impulse purchases and save time. For example, shoppers can create a clean grocery shopping list that includes perishables, like fruits and vegetables, as well as nonperishables, such as canned soup, vegetables and packaged meals.
Nelson’s top picks for a healthy grocery store shopping list include sprouted bread, single-ingredient grains, like farro, millet, quinoa and brown rice, instead of traditional white bread; black beans, which provide 7 grams of protein per half cup; and plain or reduced-sugar dairy products, compared to vanilla and fruit-flavored yogurts, which can be high in added sugars. She also suggests a staple such as eggs, which can be eaten in many ways and are fairly affordable. She recommends buying eggs that are sourced from free-range chickens and adding them to salads, scrambles and hard boiled egg snacks.
Health Food Restaurants
With a variety of options to choose from, health-conscious diners can enjoy their favorite meals out. Many restaurants offer healthier alternatives, from grilled fish to salads and burgers with low-fat cheese. To limit calories, avoid fried foods, such as fries or onion rings, and opt for a salad instead. For those who prefer fast food, opt for the kids’ menu or a grilled chicken sandwich, rather than a burger or fry combo.
If you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan cuisine, a visit to Seeds & Weeds will delight your palate with savory dishes that make plant-based dining a satisfying experience. Warm, earthy interiors complement the farm-to-table spirit of the restaurant, where you can sample mushroom walnut Bolognese or an olive oil artichoke starter.
In addition to reducing salt, sugar and fat, health food restaurants are also starting to eliminate artificial flavors and coloring. Additionally, they’re replacing regular juices with cold-pressed drinks that are infused with herbs and using less sugar in desserts. Another option is adding fermented beverages like kombucha, which is thought to improve gut health.
Healthy Restaurants
For those who are looking for healthy restaurants that also taste good, there are many options in the city. These restaurants focus on healthy foods that are fresh, low-fat and made with whole grains. The menus also contain many vegetable options and healthy protein choices. Some of these healthy restaurants also offer low-calorie drinks and desserts.
Sonnyboy, which is owned by Banter, is a great healthy restaurant for a casual night out with friends. This Australian cafe has all the typical fare such as quinoa bowls and chia pudding bowls, but it also offers more indulgent dishes like a falafel pita or a spicy salmon salad.
Conclusion
Another healthy option is Lovely Day, which has 1950s diner vibes and serves Thai food. The menu is large, so you can find something to suit everyone in your group. For example, the herb roasted chicken wrap and the brown rice with wild salmon should satisfy all tastes. The restaurant is also vegetarian-friendly, with items such as a vegan chicken lo mein and the mushroom and black bean burger.
