Describe the characteristics of a healthy diet and the challenges associated with choosing the right foods.

The characteristics of a healthy diet are getting the proper nutrients that are an essential factor to maintaining a good healthy life style. Ensuring that one receives the proper nutrient consists of eating healthy and balances the foods from all the food groups; these include fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, whole grain, fats and oils, also drinking the appropriate amount of water is essential as well. By maintaining a healthy life style that includes healthy eating and exercise is the key to keeping your body in the best shape as possible. The challenges associated with choosing the right foods are having self-control. There are so many fast food restaurants which it becomes so convenient to just stop and go versus preparing a lunch before leaving the house in the morning. Having self-control helps when you do stop to grab a bite to eat because it helps you will make good food choices when you do stop at fast food restaurants to something to eat. 

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (13 ed)