Healthy_Eating_Plan

Healthy Eating Plan Comparison University of Phoenix May 25, 2009 Healthy Eating Plan When I first started this class I had no idea of what eating good consisted of, but now I look at food and nutrition in a totally different light. In week one of this class I stated that I have always been able to eat what I want until a few years ago. As I have gotten older I have gained weight and developed high cholesterol. I have been trying for several months now to eat better and exercise more so, I can stay healthy. Throughout this paper I will discuss my current eating habits and, what changes I have made in my diet since week one of this class. I will also discuss what I look for when making my food choices. Changing eating habits and making sure that one is receiving the proper nutrients is important and can help one stay healthy. Current Eating Habits Over the past several months I have worked hard to change my eating habits. I have struggled with high cholesterol for years now and, I am tired of taking cholesterol medicine. I am currently doing much better at watching what I eat than I was in the first week of class. In week one I was still eating breads, drinking soda and eating fewer vegetables. Now, I have found that I do not eat bread at all unless it is wheat bread and, I only eat it on rare occasions. I am drinking more water than ever and have cut my soft drinks down to only two a day. I know that two may still be too much but after drinking six to eight every day I believe I am improving. When my family eats pasta my wife makes sure that she fixes the whole wheat pasta. This is a new change for us; however, this change has helped me meet my grain recommendation from My Pyramid Plan. I am still being cautious of my serving sizes and making sure that I do not over eat. If I do return for seconds I eat vegetables or fruits instead of eating more meat or pasta. I am eating more chicken and fish than I was eating. My family only eats red meat about once a week. I am still working on eating more fruit. I have never been a big fruit eater but my wife has completely stopped buying the little Debbie snacks and chips and started buying tons of fruits and vegetables. I have started eating more fruits but, I am still finding that I need to eat more according to My Pyramid Plan. I have changed the way I eat in the past several months and, I am working hard every day to continue to eat healthier, so that I have a long and healthy life. Changes in Diet After evaluating my eating habits for the month through the My Pyramid Tracker I have learned that my way of eating has not been terrible; however, there is more room for improvement. I have started my own business since the class started plus working a full-time job. By doing this I am getting more exercise than ever and I feel 10 times better than I did. I did purchase a scale that helps me measure the amount of food that I eat. I am also keeping track of the number of calories that I am eating per day. By keeping a log of my food intake this has helped me stay within the amount of calories that is recommended by My Pyramid Plan. As a family we do not eat out anymore and if we travel we take our snacks and food with us, this way we will not be tempted to eat unhealthy food. We have also disposed of the tempting foods that we had in the house and replaced them with healthy snack foods. I no longer eat late at night anymore or eat when I am not hungry. Since my wife does most of the cooking she has changed the way she prepares the food, instead of using butter she uses cooking spray. This has helped me limit my extras and allows me to have extra vegetables or fruits. After looking back at week one and reviewing my healthy eating plan I have realized that I am continuing to do better and try harder at staying healthy. This class as not only helped me but, it has helped my whole family. I have shown that it is not impossible to change eating habits and by making small changes over time can make one healthier. Making Food Choices Making healthy food choices is not an easy task and can sometimes be a challenge; however, if one has the will power to make these changes one can move towards having a healthier lifestyle. I sometimes go to the grocery store with my wife and when I do I find myself looking at food labels and watching what types of foods I buy. I never use to look at labels or even cared about what I was eating; however, now I have realized that life is too short and, I need to take care of my body so, I can possibly live longer. I look at foods that have less fat and certain fat free items. I have to admit I have tried some fat free food that taste horrible but others are good. I also make sure that the grain products we buy have three or more grams of fiber in them. I am more aware of the snacks that I eat as well. I am buying less unhealthy foods and buying more healthy foods. My wife and, I have also hung a food pyramid on our refrigerator which tells us the portions sizes that we need to intake per day. This tool has helped us and has made it fun for our children. I also look for foods that are less in calories for a greater amount of food this way I can have more and not worry about going over my calories for the day. This class has opened my eyes to making good food choices and taught me how to stay healthier longer. Making healthy food choices is challenging but, everyone likes a good challenge and can beat the challenge if willing. Looking back at the beginning of this class I was thinking that I would not learn anything; however, I have learned so much and found this class to be extremely interesting and helpful. I have found myself preaching to my family and friends about eating healthy, exercising and making sure they get the proper nutrient that they need. Doing all these things can be overwhelming at times; however, if one will put their mind to it one can prevail and be on the way to becoming a healthier person. Throughout my paper I have discussed my current eating habits and the changes I have made in my diet. Since, I have put my healthy eating plan in action it is time for, everyone to take the challenge. References Oocumma, C. (2009, April 13). Week one class paper [My Healthy Eating Plan]. Message posted to University of Phoenix individual forum, SCI/241-The Science of Nutrition Course Web Site. USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). (2009). My Pyramid Tracker. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). (2009). My Pyramid Plan. USDA. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/results.html