Healthy lifestyle choices for men
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EmailSpecific tips for men’s health.
There is no one magic food that keeps a man healthy. Men need a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and dairy to maintain a healthy body. A variety of nutrients is needed to keep men’s bodies feeling good and working to its highest potential.
Smart eating for men, women and children starts at home. Keep your refrigerator and pantry stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat yogurt, eggs, lean meat, canned beans and tuna. Cook, and cook often. Steam vegetables, roast a chicken or make spaghetti sauce from scratch. You can always freeze the leftovers to use on a day you don’t have time to cook. Eating at home allows you to control what, and how much you are eating.
Make half of your grains whole grains. They help you feel full and provide key nutrients to your body. Skip the white bread and other refined-grain products. Skip fatty meats such as hot dogs, ribs and bacon, and limit desserts and candies to only special occasions. Try using a smaller plate to limit portion sizes, but still feel like you are eating enough food. Remember that water is the best thing to drink. High calorie drinks with added sugar like soda, sports drinks, fruit juice and energy drinks can add up quick and cause weight gain.
Don’t forget to be active! Vary your activities to stay motivated and keep your body strong. Include strengthening exercises twice a week and at least 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity a week. You could ride a bike, take the dog for a walk, or go hiking with a friend. Sweating is a good thing!
Men’s energy needs differ from women’s needs. Visit the SuperTracker webpage to find out your daily caloric needs and what foods to eat from all the food groups based on your height, weight, age and activity level. You can use SuperTracker’s Food-A-Pedia to compare thousands of foods for nutritional value.
For more information on men’s health, visit the 10 Tips to for Men's health page. Michigan State University Extension offers various educational programs for adults, families and children that focus on lifestyle changes to promote healthy eating.
