There is this wonderful thing called the glycemic index. It shows the carbohydrate load of literally hundreds of foods on your body. To many carbs stress your pancrease, increase fat production, and decrease body energy. It can also result in type-II diabetes. Too much red meat and fat also contribute to this fast growing condition.
A healthy diet doesn't leave you hungry, and will satisfy your craving for everything. For instance, a moderate portion of meat (doesn't really matter whether it's fish, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, etc.), about 3 ounces, combined with a nutritions veggie (can be anything from a sweet potatoe, to squash, to cabbage, or leafy lettuce), some dairy (a glass of reduced-fat milk, cottage cheese, slices of good cheese, yogurt, etc), and a whole grain diner roll or slice of whole-grain bread, with our without butter, or olive oil, finishing up with a piece of cantaloupe or other fruit, will give you a ballanced and satisfying meal.
The key to good nutrition is deceptively simple. Eat a bunch of different things, all in small amounts. Eat inelligent portions, and prepare without a lot of extra fat or salt. Use flavorings such as herbs and spices to add zest to the foods.
If you're cooking with cheese, use a sharp, strongly flavored variety so that you can use less and still achieve the flavor you want.
Don't give up on things like chocolate, or cake, or pies (insert you favorite indulgent food here), but eat sparingly, and not all the time.
Lastly, move that body. The more you move it, the healthier it will be. And possibly the behavior that is more ignored than any other, or at least isn't in the limelight as much, get 7 to eight continuous hours of sleep every night, and on a regular schedule. This will increase your mental alertness, allow your body to heal itself from everyday stresses, and boost your energy levels so that you can perform better in all aspects of your life.
Good health isn't a matter of following fads, or the South Beach Diet, or...
It's a matter of living intelligently, all the time.
And I won't preach that alcohol is bad (beer and other alcoholic drinks also place significant carbohydrate loads on your body), or that cigarettes kill. Everyone knows that alcohol is a poison to the body. Everyone knows the dangers of tobaco. So use your own judgement and act accordingly.
Don't let food or life control you. Choose the life you want and empower yourself to take control of your own future. And believe prescious little of what advertisors are trying to sell you. They want to make a profit, and will mislead you in order to do it.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North