When talking about the whole grain section I choose to say carbs. Why? Two reasons, our bodies use carbs as energy and it is not just whole grains that fill your carb quota for your meals. For example yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes and squash, are good carbs. I do not consider them to be a veggie. Basically if you eat a yam and a side of rice you have two carbs. You may notice that there is not a dairy section. In fact, under the water section it says limit milk and dairy. Some dairy goes under the protein section. Examples of this include cottage cheese, Greek yogurt and whey. The last and most important key to a healthy diet is to avoid sugars. If you notice that throughout your day you are craving sugar ask yourself have I had enough fruit today?
We teach our kids that every plate and snack should have a protein, a good carb, a veggie or fruit, and some good fat, along with plenty of water for the day. We show them this picture as a easy way to manage portion sizes. I think of this picture in my head as I am fixing my plate. I encourage you to do the same. There is a lot of bad information out there. Don’t set yourself up for failure. If you have any questions please give me a call 801-569-1141.
