Healthy food and unhealthy food vary greatly in the nutrient content they provide. Healthy food is packed with vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats that are essential for our body to function optimally. Unhealthy food, on the other hand, is often low in nutrients and high in empty calories.
Healthy food is fresh and minimally processed.
It typically contains whole grains, lean proteins such as poultry, fish or beans, healthy fats like olive oil or nuts, fruits and vegetables of all colors. Healthy meals are typically balanced with a variety of foods that provide the right amount of energy to sustain activity throughout the day. Eating a variety of healthy foods supports the immune system and helps decrease risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
Unhealthy food is usually processed or pre-packaged products with added sugars, salt and saturated fats. These types of foods tend to be calorie-dense but nutritionally shallow; providing a lot of “empty” calories without any significant nutritional value. Common examples include fast food meals such as burgers and fries; pre-packaged snacks like chips or candy; sugary beverages like soda or energy drinks; fried foods; processed meats like hot dogs or sausages; baked goods such as cookies and cakes.
In conclusion, healthy food provides us with essential nutrients while unhealthy food tends to be low in nutrition yet high in calories. Eating a balanced diet consisting mostly of fresh fruits and vegetables along with lean proteins will help ensure that your body has all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Avoiding processed foods as much as possible can also help you maintain good health by limiting your intake of empty calories.