Good vs. bad foods

Over the years many foods have been improperly labeled as "good" or "bad" for one reason or another. For example, red meat, butter and eggs were considered "bad" for many years. Now we know that lean beef is good for you, eggs contain lots of essential nutrients and butter is okay in moderation.

There ARE a few bad substances that are added to our foods – trans fats for instance. But all of the natural foods made by God are good – meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains. Our job as stewards of our bodies is to choose mostly nutrient-dense foods instead of empty calories. Choose low fat milk, 100% juice, tea or water instead of soda or other sugary drinks. Eat several kinds of fruits and vegetables each day. Eat whole grain bread and pasta instead of white. Use brown rice, not white. Include sources of monounsaturated fats like nuts, olive oil and avocado. Eat fish once a week.

Should we avoid all desserts and salty, fat-laden snacks? Probably not. It's just not realistic to think that we will never eat those treats. The trick is to limit the portion size and the frequency. After all, having something only once in a while is what makes it a treat. But remind yourself that a serving of ice cream is 1/2 cup, not 3 cups. Buy one candy bar, not a whole bag, and split the one bar with a friend. Splurge on takeout pizza once a month, instead of once a week. Get the idea?

Bottom line? Try not to label foods as good or bad. Instead, focus on healthful eating by choosing lots and lots of nutrient-dense foods every day.