What is the most important thing to eat healthily?

From: Zoe

Not that this is a problem in developed countries, but the most important thing to consider for proper nutrition is the calories.

We need a minimum of calories a day to sustain life. Food is our fuel and if we don't ingest that minimum, it does not matter how well we eat. This is what we see in poor countries, where food is in short supply and children growth is stunted.

Developed countries, where food is plentiful, have the opposite problem. Too many calories lead to obesity. Which is not healthy.

So the first consideration is to eat the right number of calories and, if in doubt, to have slightly less, though never less than your basal methabolism. The latest research shows that people with frugal eating habits live longer.

After considering the amount of calories. You can start thinking about their quality: less than a third from fat, and how many from fruits, vegetables and sources of protein.