Many people are looking for the keys to a longer, healthier life. One of the keys is food. What you consume everyday makes all the difference in how your body functions, how well you can fight off illness and how you feel.

The “Clean Plate”

You probably grew up being told by your parents to always clean your plate. But our definition of clean plate is less about finishing your food and more about the quality of the food on your plate.

A nutritious diet is full of fruits and veggies, lean protein such as chicken, turkey or plant-based protein and healthy oils such as olive or avocado oil.

Think you know the right foods to eat for longevity? Take our “Food Smart” quiz to test your nutrition knowledge and find out if you’re on the right path to longevity.

  1. Do you avoid foods that contain added sugar?
  2. Do you eat at least one piece of raw fruit each day?
  3. Do you eat at least five servings of vegetables each day?
  4. Do you eat brown rice, quinoa, millet, oats or other whole grains at least three times per week?
  5. Do you eat a serving of raw vegetables daily?
  6. Do you use seaweed in your cooking?
  7. Do you eat fish at least twice a week?
  8. Do you chew your food completely before swallowing?
  9. Do you read the nutrition labels on food packaging?
  10. Do you eat while you’re stressed or emotional?
  11. Do you take the time to eat properly, even when you’re tired or busy?
  12. Do you eat breakfast daily?
  13. Do you drink filtered or bottled water each day?
  14. Do you drink at least eight glasses of water each day?
  15. Do you avoid alcohol or soda during meals?
  16. Do you drink water about 30 minutes before or after meals, not during meals?
  17. Do you eat a variety of foods in your diet instead of eating the same foods each day?
  18. Do you drink raw vegetable juices at least once a week?
  19. Were you breastfed as an infant?
  20. Do you eat raw seeds at least three times per week?

How did you score? Tally your “yes” answers.

17-20: Excellent!

You’re on the right track. Keep it up!

12-16: Not bad. Keep going.

You’re doing well, but you could be doing better. Make an effort to work on changing those “no’s” to “yes”.

11 or less: You’ve got work to do.

Now is the time to decide how healthy you want to be, how strong you want to be, how good you want to feel. Then get to work!