How to Be Healthy

Specific Purpose: “To inform my audience about how to eat healthy.”

Central Idea: In this speech, I’ll be explaining why it is important to eat healthy, and give tips on what to do to initiate healthier eating habits.

Introduction:

Attention Getter: How many of you want to be healthy?

Credibility Material: My mom is a dietitian; which is a person who specializes in the study of food and nutrition in relation to health, and she’s always stressing to my brother and I to eat up vegetables and to eat fruit everyday.

Relevance to the Audience: Almost everybody knows that it’s important to eat healthy. However, not everybody can explain exactly why. Healthy eating is essential for a number of reasons, and not all of them are as obvious as “getting your vitamins.”

Preview of Main points: Why pay attention to what you eat? Is healthy eating the same as going on a diet? How to eat to be healthy?

Link: First off…

I. Why pay attention to what you eat?

A. Healthy eating is one of the best things you can do to prevent and control many health problems, such as Obesity, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, & Some types of cancer.

1) According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, about one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Even for people at a healthy weight, a poor diet is associated with major health risks that can cause illness and even death.

B. Healthy foods are full of nutrients that contribute to the health of your skin, hair and nails. These nutrients not only make you look better, but also keep your skin healthier.

C. You’ll benefit your brain. The Alzheimer’s Association says a brain-healthy diet is one that reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, encourages good blood flow to the brain, and is low in fat and cholesterol. Like the heart, the brain needs the right balance of nutrients, including protein and sugar, to function well.

Link: Next…

II. Is healthy eating the same as going on a diet?

A. Healthy eating is not a diet. It means making changes you can live with and enjoy for the rest of your life. Diets are temporary. Because you give up so much when you diet, you may be hungry and think about food all the time. And after you stop dieting, you also may overeat to make up for what you missed.

B. C. Eating a healthy, balanced variety of foods is far more satisfying. And if you match that with more physical activity, you are more likely to get to a healthy weight-and stay there-than if you diet.

Link: Now that I’ve told you the differences between healthy eating and diets…

III. How to eat healthy?

A. It’s easier than you think to start eating healthy! The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set guidelines for a healthy diet. The USDA’s “MyPyramid” divides food into five groups and explains how much of each food group you need, as well as the benefits of each food group. Following the USDA’s recommended dietary guidelines can help reduce the risk of some diseases, including heart disease.

B. Small changes can make a big difference to your health. Try incorporating at least six of the eight goals below provided by the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition into your diet. Commit to incorporating one new healthy eating goal each week over the next six weeks.

1) Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. 2) Make half the grains you eat whole grains. 3) Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. 4) Choose a variety of lean protein foods. 5) Compare sodium in foods. 6) Drink water instead of sugary drinks. 7) Eat some seafood. 8) Cut back on solid fats

Conclusion: In conclusion, healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, stabilizing your mood, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible.