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Healthy Eating

Learn about healthy eating

Photo of a woman shopping for fresh vegetables

Most people have heard that healthy eating is important. But it can be hard to know what healthy eating means. Our topics can teach you how to eat well, whether your goal is to feel good, manage your weight, or prevent health problems. You will also find plenty of information about nutrition for health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, food allergies, digestive problems, and eating disorders.

To learn more, browse our Healthy Eating topics or start with these:

Health Topics

Reference Added Sugars

Reference ADHD: Taking Care of Yourself When Your Child Has ADHD

Reference Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Taking Vitamins

Reference Alternative Diet Programs

Reference Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Maintaining Good Nutrition

Reference American Heart Association Healthy Diet Guidelines

Reference Anorexia: Learning New Eating Behaviors

Reference Anorexia: Learning to Trust Others

Reference Antioxidants

Reference Avoiding Mercury in Fish

Reference Binge Eating Disorder

Reference Boosting Your Metabolism

Reference Bottle-Feeding

Reference Breast-Feeding: Exercise and Weight Loss

Reference Bulimia Nervosa

Reference Carbohydrate Foods

Reference Celiac Disease

Reference Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Eating Fish and Fish Oil

Reference Choosing a Vitamin and Mineral Supplement

Reference Choosing a Weight-Loss Program

Reference Comparing Artificial Sweeteners

Reference Coronary Artery Disease: Eating Fish to Lower Your Risk

Reference Counting Carbohydrate Grams or Servings

Reference DASH Diet Sample Menu

Reference Dawn's Story: From Dieting to Healthy Eating Habits

Reference Developing a Plan for Healthy Eating

Reference Diabetes in Children: Food Issues at School

Reference Diet and Gout

Reference Dietary Guidelines for Good Health

Reference Dietary Reference Intake

Reference Dietary Supplements (Herbal Medicines and Natural Products)

Reference Drinking Enough Water

Reference Eat a Balanced Diet for Mental Health

Reference Eating Disorders and Self-Esteem

Reference Eating Disorders: Avoiding Guilt and Self-Blame

Reference Eating Disorders: Cultural and Social Factors

Reference Eating Disorders: Malnutrition Tests

Reference Eating Disorders: Personality Traits That Put You at Risk

Reference Eating Journal

Reference Eating Out When You Have Diabetes

Reference Eating Protein

Reference Eating Right When You Have More Than One Health Problem

Reference Eating Well During Cancer Treatment

Reference Emotional Eating

Reference Fasting

Reference Fat Replacers in Food

Reference Feeding Your Child Using Division of Responsibility

Reference Feeding Your Infant

Reference Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia

Reference Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia: Causes

Reference Following a Low-Fiber Diet

Reference Food Allergies

Reference Gas (Flatus)

Reference Gas, Bloating, and Burping

Reference Getting Enough Calcium

Reference Getting Enough Calcium and Vitamin D

Reference Getting Enough Folic Acid

Reference Getting Enough Iron

Reference Getting Enough Potassium

Reference Gluten-Free Diet for Celiac Disease

Reference Guide for a Balanced Diet

Reference Health Claims on Food Labels

Reference Health Tracking Forms and Checklists

Reference Healthy Attitudes Toward Food and Exercise

Reference Healthy Eating

Reference Healthy Eating and Older Adults

Reference Healthy Eating for Children

Reference Healthy Eating in Children: Problems Caused by Poor Nutrition

Reference Healthy Eating in Children: Things That Influence Food Choices

Reference Healthy Eating to Decrease Stress

Reference Healthy Eating: Influences on Eating Behavior

Reference Healthy Habits for Kids

Reference Healthy Habits to Prevent or Reduce Problems From Osteoporosis

Reference Heart Failure: Eating a Healthy Diet

Reference Heartburn: Changing Your Eating Habits

Reference Heart-Healthy Eating

Reference Helping the Overweight Child

Reference Helping Your Teen Follow a Gluten-Free Diet

Reference Hepatitis A and Undercooked Shellfish

Reference Hidden Gluten

Reference High Blood Pressure: Nutrition Tips

Reference High Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines Based on Heart Attack Risk

Reference High Cholesterol: Effect of Food on Cholesterol

Reference High Cholesterol: Healthy Food Choices

Reference High Cholesterol: How a Dietitian Can Help

Reference How to Find Sodium

Reference Hunger, Fullness, and Appetite Signals

Reference Interactive Tool: How Many Calories Did You Burn?

Reference Iron Deficiency Anemia

Reference Izzy's Story: Living With the DASH Diet

Reference Jeremy's Story: Focusing on Eating Habits

Reference Joe's Story: Taking Charge With the TLC Plan

Reference Lead Poisoning: Nutrition and Food Preparation

Reference Loralie's Story: It's Never Too Late

Reference Maggie Morris: Plan Ahead When You Eat Out

Reference Maggie: Making Room for Worth-It Foods

Reference Maggie's Strategies for Eating Healthy

Reference Major Nutrients in Food

Reference Mediterranean Diet

Reference Ménière's Disease and Sodium

Reference Minerals: Their Functions and Sources

Reference Modify Recipes for a Heart-Healthy Diet

Reference Nonmilk Sources of Calcium

Reference Nutrition and Physical Activity

Reference Nutrition and Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Reference Nutrition While Breast-Feeding

Reference Obesity

Reference Organic Foods

Reference Overweight Child: Evaluating Nutrition and Activity Patterns

Reference Overweight Child: Medical Evaluation

Reference Parkinson's Disease and Nutrition

Reference Picky Eaters: Planning Nutritious Meals

Reference PKU Diet

Reference Preeclampsia: Expectant Management

Reference Pregnancy: Vegetarian Diet

Reference Preventing Foot Cramps

Reference Probiotics

Reference Quick Tips: Adding Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet

Reference Quick Tips: Avoiding Empty Calories

Reference Quick Tips: Cutting Calories

Reference Quick Tips: Having Enough Energy to Stay Active

Reference Quick Tips: Healthy Eating on a Budget

Reference Quick Tips: Making Fast, Healthy Meals

Reference Quick Tips: Making Healthy Snacks

Reference Quick Tips: Shopping for Organic and Chemical-Free Foods

Reference Reading Food Labels When You Have Diabetes

Reference Recommended Servings for Adults

Reference Salt Substitute Recipe

Reference Snack Ideas for Preschoolers

Reference Sodium and High Blood Pressure

Reference Spinal Cord Injury: Dietary Issues

Reference Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)

Reference Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet for High Cholesterol

Reference Tips for Maintaining Weight Loss

Reference Tips for Success With the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet

Reference TLC Diet Sample Menu

Reference Topiramate for Binge Eating Disorder

Reference Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Making Mealtime Happier

Reference Types of Fats

Reference Vegetarian Diets

Reference Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia

Reference Vitamins: Their Functions and Sources

Reference Weaning

Reference Weight Management

Reference Women and Coronary Artery Disease

Medical Tests

Reference Folic Acid

Reference Homocysteine

Reference Vitamin B12

Make a Wise Decision

Obesity: Should I Have Weight-Loss Surgery? Opens New Window

Obesity: Should I Use a Diet Plan to Lose Weight? Opens New Window

Weight Management: Should I Use Over-the-Counter Diet Aids? Opens New Window

Take Action

Reference Bowel Disease: Changing Your Diet

Reference Celiac Disease: Eating a Gluten-Free Diet

Reference COPD: Keeping Your Diet Healthy

Reference Diabetes in Children: Counting Carbs

Reference Diabetes: Counting Carbs if You Don't Use Insulin

Reference Diabetes: Counting Carbs if You Use Insulin

Reference Diabetes: Eating a Low Glycemic Diet

Reference Gestational Diabetes: Counting Carbs

Reference Gout: Changing Your Diet

Reference Healthy Eating: Changing Your Eating Habits

Reference Healthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your Diet

Reference Healthy Eating: Eating Less Sodium

Reference Healthy Eating: Getting Support When Changing Your Eating Habits

Reference Healthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating Habits

Reference Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Eat Out

Reference Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Shop

Reference Healthy Eating: Overcoming Barriers to Change

Reference Healthy Eating: Recognizing Your Hunger Signals

Reference Healthy Eating: Starting a Plan for Change

Reference Healthy Eating: Staying With Your Plan

Reference Healthy Eating: Using a Plate Format to Plan Meals

Reference Heart Disease: Eating a Heart-Healthy Diet

Reference High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet

Reference High Cholesterol: Raising Your HDL Level

Reference High Cholesterol: Using the TLC Diet

Reference Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Controlling Symptoms With Diet

Reference Kidney Disease: Changing Your Diet

Reference Kidney Stones: Preventing Kidney Stones Through Diet

Reference Low-Salt Diets: Eating Out

Reference Osteoporosis: Taking Calcium and Vitamin D

Credits

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: Reference April 19, 2012
Medical Review:	Reference Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Health Information

Healthy Eating

Learn about healthy eating

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