A Simple Guide to Eating

by Melody Thacker, in Cooking, Ideas (No Comments)

What if there was a simple, sensible guide to eating a healthy diet? I tried to explain the food guide and our dietary requirements to a friend once. It didn’t make sense to her, it seemed too complicated and I’d hazard a guess she isn’t alone.  We can learn a lot from other Countries and their dietary habits.

I came across the guidelines for Brazil and thought it was worth sharing with you.

1. Choose real food. Make natural or minimally processed foods the basis of your diet
2. Use oils, fats, salt, and sugar in small amounts when seasoning and cooking natural or minimally processed foods and to create culinary preparations
3. Limit consumption of processed foods
4. Avoid consumption of ultra-processed products. This would be fast foods, already prepared, heat and eat meals, instant mixes etc.
5. Don’t skip meals. Eat with family and friends, it’s more enjoyable to have company. Eat regularly and carefully in appropriate environments and, whenever possible, in company
6. The perimeter of our traditional grocery stores is where you will find real food. Shop in places that offer a variety of natural or minimally processed foods
7. Learn to cook, it’s fun and rewarding. Besides nothing tastes better than home cooking. Develop, exercise and share culinary skills
8. Avoid mindless eating and eating on to go. Plan your time to make food and eating important in your life
9. When you eat out choose restaurants that prepare food from scratch. Out of home, prefer places that serve freshly made meals
10. Last but not least, remember food manufacturers main goal is making a profit.  Be wary of food advertising and marketing

You’ll find the original unedited list here: Brazilian dietary guidelines are based on foods, food patterns, and meals, not nutrients.

Do you find this guide easier to understand and follow? Let us know what you think in the comments below!