Healthy Living - Common Questions

The Food Guides are confusing. Should I be eating food from the four food groups or focus on grains and vegetables?

In the past, the recommended foods to eat were based on four food groups, with meats in one, vegetables and fruit in another, grains in the third and dairy in the last. As years went by, things changed and the recommended portions and groups of foods to eat changed to a pyramid style, with fats in the smallest group and grains and vegetables in the largest. Now, recommendations are changing again to follow a rainbow style. Whole grains are encouraged as good foods, followed by vegetables and fruits, dairy, and lastly, meats.

I'm tired of hearing about how I should be exercising every day and seeing pictures of perfect models in tights doing workouts. Aren't there fast exercises for real people?

Sure there are. Getting exercise for your body doesn't mean you need to have fancy clothing or a set routine. Have something heavy to pick up? Lift it and lower it a couple of extra times for an impromptu weight-training session. Do you have an elevator at the office? Choose the stairs instead. If you have stairs at home, use them as exercise tools and walk up and down them a few times a day . Get outside and take a walk with the dog or leave the bus behind and travel by foot. Put on some music and dance with your kids. The trick is to find fun things that you can implement in your lifestyle.

I often eat at the computer, but I have the feeling this isn't very good for me. Is there a right way to eat?

Taking the time to sit down for meals is important. Focusing on mealtime avoids the way people can phase out munching without realizing how much they're eating. If you sit down and concentrate on your meal, you'll eat more slowly, which helps your body know when it's full. No matter where you are eating, whether at the computer, your desk, standing up, or at the kitchen table, do listen to your body and stop eating when you feel you've eaten enough.

My child won't eat anything but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. What can I do to get him to eat better?

Getting your child to eat proper foods is as easy as serving them. Sure, your child may throw a tantrum that his favorite food isn't the only thing on the menu anymore, but after a day or two, hunger will set in and your child will eat what you've served. So many parents prefer avoiding fights with their child and just give in, but that's not setting proper eating habits for the future. Don't fight about it with your child, though. Offer the meal and if he refuses to eat, don't try to force the issue. Keep calm and be quiet but firm. Eventually, he'll clue in and start eating more of what's on the table. You can always try a compromise, if your child is old enough to negotiate, and offer those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch meals only.

Which exercise style is best?

There are many different ways to exercise and it's hard to say that one is better than the other. What's important is that you're physically active. Whether you get your exercise by playing sports each week or by doing Pilates or weight training makes no difference. If you're looking to develop muscles or strength, different types of exercise develop different things about your body. A physical trainer can give you good advice about what activity you should choose. Otherwise, if you just want to stay in shape, find an activity or exercise you enjoy and have fun with.

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