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What is Traffic Light Eating? Have you ever heard of that phrase before? Well, if you have not, I will tell you what Traffic Light Eating is?
The traffic light eating plan makes it easier to choose healthy foods. This method encourages us to choose foods that are nutrient-dense and low in saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars. The traffic light method helps us follow a diet that focuses on balance, variety, and moderation. Following this eating method will help you make healthy choices when in the grocery store, organizing your kitchen, or planning meals for your family.
The traffic light eating consist of Green, Yellow, and Red lights. We know that Green means “Go.” These foods are “anytime” foods and re often nutrient-rich and are low in calories, saturated fats, and added sugars, and sodium. Yellow means “slow down” and are called “sometime foods.” We can enjoy these foods in smaller amounts. Red means “stop” because these foods are high in calories, sodium, saturated fats, or added sugars and often lower in healthy nutrients. If you are going to eat these foods, limit to “special occasions” or once a week.
Here are a few examples of each traffic light eating sample menu for the 5 food groups.
Grains – Traffic Light Tip: Make at lease half of your grain’s whole grains.
Green Light Grains – Whole wheat waffle or pancake
Yellow Light Grains – Plain waffle or pancake
Red Light Grains – Flavored waffle or pancake
Fruits – Traffic Light Tip: Focus on whole fruits
Green Light Fruits – Canned fruit in water or in its own juice
Yellow Light Fruits – Canned fruit in light syrup
Red Light Fruits – Canned fruit in heavy syrup
Vegetables – Traffic Light Tip: Vary your vegetables
Green Light Vegetables – Oven-baked potato wedges (homemade)
Yellow Light Vegetables – Oven-baked fries (frozen)
Red Light Vegetables – French fries, tater tots, hash browns, sweet potato fries, onion rings
Proteins – Traffic Light Tip: Vary your protein routine
Green Light Protein – Pork tenderloin
Yellow Light Protein – Turkey bacon, turkey sausage, pork chops, pork shoulder, ham
Red Light Protein – Bacon sausage, pork belly, crackling, fried pork chops,
Dairy – Traffic Light Tip: Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy
Green Light Dairy – 1% milk, skim milk, 1% or skim lactose-free milk
Yellow Light Dairy – 2% milk, 1% chocolate milk, 2% lactose-free milk
Red Light Dairy – Whole milk, chocolate milk, whole lactose-free milk
Extras – Traffic Light Tips
Green Light – Fat-free mayonnaise
Yellow Light – Low-fat mayonnaise
Red Light – Mayonnaise
Beverages – Traffic Light Tip
Green Light Drinks – Zero-calorie soda, water 0-5 calorie packet-flavored water
Yellow Light Drinks – Diet soda, reduced-sugar beverages
Red Light Drinks – Soda, energy drinks, slushies, lemonade
I hope this traffic light eating guide will help you to better choose healthy foods when meal planning for you and your family.
Happy shopping and menu planning!!!