Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Overview
Making healthy choices about what you eat and drink is a powerful way to care for yourself. You need the right fuel to feel well and have the energy to do what matters most to you.
Why does food and drink matter?
Food choices affect how you feel, both physically and emotionally. The right foods help you not only to live, but to live well!
Besides fueling your body, nutritious food and drink choices can help prevent chronic disease and support overall well-being. Healthy eating habits can reduce the risk of certain diseases while also improving mood and energy levels.
Here's more
Focusing on what you eat and drink can improve your health in many ways. A healthy diet can reduce pain and inflammation, improve the quality of your sleep, and reduce symptoms of conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It can even lower the risk of certain cancers.
Nutrition needs vary for each person. Not everyone needs to lose weight or control blood sugar, for example. You have your own likes and dislikes and you may have intolerances or allergies to certain foods. You might have access to some foods and drinks but not others; depending on where you live and how much money you have. You may eat a certain way based on your background or where you came from. What you eat also depends on who does the cooking, and how much you dine out. The bottom line is you are the one to decide what it means for you to eat healthy and you can get support from your health care team.
Take action
All the information available on food and drink can feel overwhelming. To make it easier, focus on your goals and how food and drink may help you achieve them.
Below are a few examples of how to make healthy food and drink choices. For more ideas, talk with your primary care provider and VA registered dietitian. Choose foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins. Limit red meat, processed foods, and added sugars. These choices help reduce inflammation, which is linked to various chronic diseases, and can enhance overall health.
- Plan meals ahead of time and create a grocery list based on healthy, whole foods. Stick to the outer aisles of the grocery store, where fresh produce, lean meats, and dairy are usually located, and limit processed foods found in the center aisles.
- Start with a small step — for example, can you drink water or herbal tea instead of soda? When you reach this goal, consider making it a permanent change. Continue to set small goals for your Whole Health.
Explore further
- VA Healthy Teaching Kitchen YouTube videos
- Veteran Success Story: Healthy Cooking Class Spices Up Life
- Nutrition and Food Services Home (va.gov)
- VA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Eat Wisely page
- Learn about Whole Health activities at your local VA facility.
