Introduction
Your food intake affects your health on a long-term basis, but have you ever stopped to think how your daily life is affected by the food you eat?  For those of us who are concerned about our health and energy level, we need to understand the important role that nutrition plays in our day-to-day lives. The food choices you make, the timing of your meals, and the amount of food you eat all affect your energy level, your mood, your ability to concentrate and your ability to deal with stress.  Your immune system and your ability to fight off colds and infections are also affected by your nutritional intake.

Thinking long-term, we know that 60-80% of all cancers are preventable through good nutrition.  We also know that there are several steps you can take to significantly lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The goal of Food Smart is to provide you with practical and easy-to-use information so that you can start improving your health today.  Take small steps and make gradual changes over time.  You will start to feel better, and your motivation to continue with the changes will be reinforced.

Diets that promise fast results in a short period of time can be very appealing to a lot of individuals.  All diets can work in the short-term, but it is long-term results that you should be looking for.  A diet that promotes very drastic changes (for example, cutting out carbohydrates) will give you quick results, but unfortunately those results will be short-lived.  Many people go through cycles of losing weight and gaining weight because they have not made realistic, gradual lifestyle changes. 

By following the recommendations outlined in this booklet, you will start to feel and look a little better with each week and month that passes.  Do not feel discouraged if you don’t notice any drastic or dramatic changes in the short-term.  This program is about long-term success and being able to maintain any changes you make.