Changing My Diet     For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why I had been feeling so tired and irritable lately. I have a hectic schedule with school and work, but I have always been a healthy guy. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or do drugs. And I’m not overweight. So when I fell asleep during a test last month, I decided it was time to take action. I made an appointment to see my doctor the same day.     After running several tests to rule out some medical conditions, we talked about my diet. That’s when I had to admit that I ate out almost every day. When I told my doctor about the kinds of foods I ate every day, such as Bavarian cream and jelly doughnuts for breakfast, triple cheeseburgers and chili fries for lunch, and supreme pizzas and cola for dinner, she explained that my diet was the problem.     I really wasn’t so “healthy” after all. Nearly everything I ate had extremely high levels of sugar, fat, calories, cholesterol, salt, and caffeine. I was hardly getting the nutrients my body needed to function properly.     During the visit, my doctor told me about healthier food choices that included good sources of protein, folic acid, and vitamins A and C. She even shared a few of her favorite quick and wholesome recipes. She also suggested that I exercise for at least 20 minutes every day and follow up with a nutritionist.     After a few weeks of playing basketball at the gym and making healthier eating choices, I feel like myself again. I have lots more energy. During class, I remain focused. I’m not so moody or cranky either. You know, changing my diet was one of the best choices I could have ever made!

1. Anthony thought he was healthy because he didn’t smoke, drink alcohol, do drugs, or carry too much weight. What does being healthy mean to you?
2. Monitoring your portion size, or the amount of a food that you eat at one time, is just as important as choosing the right kinds of foods. Why is this true?
3. Anthony chose basketball as his form of exercise. Do you need to join a gym to get enough exercise? What kinds of exercise can you participate in? Explain.