The Basics of Eating Healthy
There are so many food trends and lifestyle movements to choose from that it’s hard to keep track of what truly makes us healthy. A healthy lifestyle involves finding the balance that best suits your personal life challenges—it combines both diet and physical and emotional factors. An appropriate diet for healthful living is low in unhealthy fats (saturated fats and trans fats), rich in good energy sources like complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), and complemented by lean protein choices (fish, seafood, poultry and trimmed red meats). It’s important to remember to limit your intake of foods that are high in sugar, empty calories or sodium, such as soft drinks, pastries and some canned foods.
Getting Active
A healthy lifestyle also includes regular physical activity, so remember to get up and get active whatever the weather—hiking, gardening and walking are good fair-weather activities while cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and indoor swimming are excellent activities for the winter months. For the best health, try to incorporate physical activity into your life for 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week.
The Weight of the Matter
Maintaining a healthy body weight is important for avoiding long-term health risks. Those who carry extra body weight run a greater risk of developing illnesses such as:
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Gall Bladder Disease
• Cancer (prostate, colon and rectal)
• Gout
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep Apnea
Portion Control Is the Key
For active individuals, it is important to eat the appropriate portions to fuel your everyday activities. DineWise Healthy Lifestyle Meal Plans are perfectly portioned to ensure that you don’t overindulge. The Chef Selections are nutritionally sound and each delicious protein entrée is partnered with a complementary side dish and vegetable to create a balanced meal. If you would like to plan your meals based on your own nutritional practices, you can use the Nutritional Product Information PDF available on our Nutritional Information Page to find meals that suit your personal targets for calories, fat, protein and carbohydrates.
Eating Well Means Eating Wise ... DineWise
Calorie Counting Made Easy
Our Advisory Board of Food Experts has done all the weighing and measuring for you. For your convenience, you can choose from the Lifestyle Meal Plans already created for you or visit our Healthy Lifestyle Meals Section and shop a la carte. DineWise Lifestyle Meal Plans average about 1,200 calories per day, if you purchase a Breakfast,Lunch, and Dinner Meal Plan. If you purchase a la carte, each meal averages about 400 calories. Whichever you choose, there are some discretionary calories for you to use to complement your meals with beverages, salads, fresh fruit and vegetables, or even the occasional indulgence.
The Right Amount of Protein
Health experts recommend that 15 to 20% of total daily calorie intake should come from protein. Choose lean protein sources like those featured in our chicken, pork, fish or seafood DineWise Entrées.
The Right Amount of Fat
Most people would be surprised to learn that your body actually needs fat for proper function and maintenance and as a source of essential nutrients. Recommendations for good heart health suggest that you consume:
• No more than 30% of daily calories coming from total fat
• No more than 10% of daily calories coming from saturated fat
For more information on consuming healthy fats, visit our Healthy Lifestyle FAQ page.
The Right Amount of Carbohydrates
Nutrition experts agree that carbohydrates should make up the largest percentage of your calorie intake—45 to 65%, in fact. The carbohydrates should come from unrefined plant sources such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These complex carbohydrates are also generally low on the glycemic index (GI) and are an appropriate food choice when trying to lose weight or maintain weight goals.
Customers with specific nutritional needs can contact our Certified Nutritional Consultants at 1-800-749-1170. We would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have and help customize the perfect healthy lifestyle plan for you.
