Skip to main content

Posts

Just Enough for You: About Food Portions

Just Enough for You: About Food Portions To reach or stay at a   healthy weight , how much you eat is just as important as what you eat. Do you know how much food is enough for you? Do you understand the difference between a portion and a serving? The information below explains portions and servings, and provides tips to help you eat just enough for you. To reach or stay at a healthy weight, how much you eat is just as important as what you eat. What is the difference between a portion and a serving? A portion is how much food you choose to eat at one time, whether in a restaurant, from a package, or at home. A serving, or   serving size , is the amount of food listed on a product's Nutrition Facts, or food label (see Figure 1 below). Different products have different serving sizes, which could be measured in cups, ounces, grams, pieces, slices, or numbers—such as three crackers. A serving size on a food label may be more or less than the amount you should eat, depending on your ag

Helping Your Child Who is Overweight

Helping Your Child Who is Overweight As a parent or other caregiver, you can do a lot to help your child reach and maintain a  healthy weight . Staying active and consuming healthy foods and beverages are important for your child's well-being. You can take an active role in helping your child—and your whole family—learn habits that may improve health. How can I tell if my child is overweight? Being able to tell whether a child is  overweight  is not always easy. Children grow at different rates and at different times. Also, the amount of a child’s body fat changes with age and differs between girls and boys. One way to tell if your child is overweight is to  calculate his or her body mass index  (BMI). BMI is a measure of body weight relative to height. The BMI calculator uses a formula that produces a score often used to tell whether a person is underweight, a normal weight, overweight, or obese. The BMI of children is age- and sex-specific and known as the “BMI-for-age.” BMI-for-

Healthy Eating & Physical Activity for Life

  Healthy Eating & Physical Activity for Life Health Tips for Adults Consuming healthy foods, beverages, and snacks, and getting regular  physical activity  may help you reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Making suitable lifestyle choices may also help men and women prevent some health problems. Setting healthy eating and physical activity goals may help you improve your health. Here’s a quick overview of some ways to eat better and be more active. Choose whole grains more often. Try whole-wheat breads and pastas, oatmeal, or brown rice. Select a mix of colorful vegetables. Vegetables of different colors provide a variety of nutrients. Try collards, kale, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. At restaurants, eat only half of your meal and take the rest home. Walk in parks, around a track, or in your neighborhood with your family or friends. Make getting physical activity a priority. Try to do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like b