What Does Healthy Actually Mean?

“Healthy” can mean different things to different people. It doesn't mean you have to avoid certain foods, eat less, or follow a specific diet. Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods that give your body the energy and nutrients it needs to stay healthy and work properly.

Here is a simple guide to help you understand what “healthy eating” can look like.

🍎 Eat a Variety of Foods

Eating a variety of foods helps your body get the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

🍞 Include Carbohydrates, Protein & Fats

Your body needs three main types of nutrients: Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. They all help your body work properly.

These include:

• Carbohydrates – found in foods such as grains, rice, potatoes and fruits
• Protein – found in foods such as beans, lentils, eggs, fish, meat and dairy
• Fats – found in foods such as nuts, seeds, avocados and oils

You do not need to cut out any of these nutrients to eat healthily. Instead, try to get them from a variety of foods.

🥦 Get Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins and minerals help your body grow, stay healthy and work properly.

You can get them from foods such as:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Legumes
• Nuts and seeds
• Dairy or fortified alternatives
• Meat, fish and other protein foods

Eating different kinds of foods helps you get the vitamins and minerals your body needs every day.

🥑 Choose Healthier Sources of Fat

Your body needs fat to stay healthy and work properly.

Try choosing more sources of unsaturated fats, such as:

• Nuts and seeds
• Avocados
• Olive and other plant-based oils
• Fatty fish

Try to limit trans fats and avoid eating too much saturated fat.

🍬 Limit Added & Refined Sugars

You can still enjoy foods and drinks with added sugar, but try not to have them too often or in large amounts.

Try to:

• Limit foods high in added sugars
• Choose whole or minimally processed foods more often, as they typically contain less added or refined sugar
• Check food labels for added sugars

You don't need to completely avoid sweets to eat a healthy diet.

💧 Stay Hydrated

Your body needs water to function properly.

Water is a good choice for staying hydrated.

Other drinks can also help you stay hydrated, but choosing water often can help you avoid extra sugar and calories.

🍽️ It’s All About Your Overall Eating Pattern

Healthy eating is not about labelling individual foods as “good” or “bad.”

Instead, think about the different foods you eat over time, not just one meal or snack.

A healthy eating pattern:

• Gives your body the energy and nutrients it needs
• Includes different kinds of foods
• Helps your body work properly
• Can help lower the risk of long-term health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Fits your needs, food preferences and daily life.

No single way of eating works for everyone. What works for one person may not work for someone else.

MyMealAid Tip 💡

You don’t need to eat perfectly to be healthy. Focus on the foods you eat over time instead of worrying about one food or meal.

Try to eat a variety of foods, get the nutrients your body needs, drink enough water, and enjoy your food without labelling it as simply “good” or “bad.”

Healthy eating is about balance, eating different kinds of foods and giving your body what it needs.

Sources

Cena, H., & Calder, P. C. (2020). Defining a Healthy Diet: Evidence for the Role of Contemporary Dietary Patterns in Health and Disease. Nutrients, 12(2), 334. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12020334

General nutrition education. This article does not replace individualized advice from a qualified healthcare professional.