Favorite foods make for healthy eating.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Brief article

Combining a diet rich in nutritional value with exercise may be the simplest step to living a longer, healthier life. However, this has been one of the most difficult secrets to unlock for millions of people in the U.S., who instead often fall victim to low physical activity and eating habits filled with cultural and ethnic comfort foods.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, III., is encouraging people to "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day"--a pathway to achieving healthy nutritional goals without forsaking many of the foods we enjoy most. "You don't always have to change everything you eat; the trick is to find good things in what you eat every day," explains nutritionist Lona Sandon. "It's also important to be mindful of portion sizes as well as how your food is prepared."

Proteins should be regarded as a side item, while vegetables should make up the largest portion of meals. She suggests adding bursts of color as a tool to make sure meals contain a healthy balance of vegetables, grains, and proteins. 'The more colorful veggies on your plate, the better off you are."

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