Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the nutrition facts panel on food labels as a guide. Everything in moderation. If a favorite food is high in fat, salt or sugar, the key is moderating how much and how often these foods are eaten. Changing too much too fast can get in the way of success. Small changes can lead to positive, lifelong habits.
All foods can fit into a healthful eating pattern.
Don't feel guilty about enjoying an occasional treat. One food, or one meal, will not make or break a healthful diet. Only 17 percent ate the recommended amounts of fruit each day, and just 25 percent consumed the recommended daily levels of dairy products. Coulston also points to recent USDA research showing that nutrition information plays a large role in determining the quality of an individual's diet. Parents appear to be doing a good job with young children in helping them strike the proper balance among grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meat.