Eating healthy is an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A new approach gaining traction in the health and fitness industry is the 4 Star Diet. The diet encourages eating whole, nutrient-dense foods and eliminates processed foods and refined sugars.
The 4 Star Diet is based on a four-star food rating system, with four stars representing the healthiest choices. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats like avocados and nuts are among these possibilities. Three-star foods are still healthy but should be consumed in moderation. Two-star items should be eaten in moderation, whereas one-star goods, such as fast food, fried foods, and sugary drinks, should be avoided entirely.
The diet is not a one-size-fits-all solution and encourages individuals to personalise it based on their needs and preferences. It emphasises the importance of portion control and mindful eating to maintain a healthy weight.
The nutrition officer at the Bolgatanga Health Directorate, Aisha Adams, expressed concern about some meals consumed in Ghana when speaking about healthy eating and living.
She used a common Ghanaian meal, beans and gari, to establish a correctly structured 4-start diet.
“We had to redefine the balanced diet; what it should contain. Previously, we said it should contain carbohydrates, protein, and such. When it comes to the 4-star diet, which we all used to know as a balanced diet, we take staple foods; when we say staple foods, we mean the starchy foods which we used to call carbohydrates. We also have all the grains and tubers within the category. Let’s say you are eating gari and beans. You have your carbohydrate because there would be gari. So that’s one star. Then we have the legumes; those are the plant proteins. With legumes, we have the beans. So with the gari and beans, you have the staples and legumes, making it a 2 star meal. Then we have to go in for the animal protein, if you buy eggs or meat. Without the egg or meat, we will say it is a 2-star diet, but if you add the animal protein, that is another star.”
“Then, we have fresh fruits and vegetables. So it is either that you decide you would take an orange after the beans or add some vegetables,” she explained.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
