Do you think that you already know how to eat right for a healthy mind and body? Take this modified quiz from the American Dietetic Association and find out your nutrition smarts! It’s fun and if you have been with me in this section since January you should do very well on it. Find out your score next week. Mark each statement either True or False:

1. Keeping a daily food record of what you eat is a good food management strategy.

2. Margarine contains fewer fats and calories than butter.

3. Forty percent of American adults are overweight or obese.

4. Soy products are a good source of protein.

5. Fruit drinks count as a serving from the fruit group in the Food Guide Pyramid.

6. While you are shopping, it is okay to leave your groceries in the car for more than two hours.

7. Drinking bottled or filtered water is healthier for you than tap water.

8. Nuts are okay to eat as part of a low-fat diet.

9. You don't need to eat fruits, vegetables or whole grain foods to get your daily requirements of fiber.

10. Kids who eat breakfast are more likely to keep their weight under control than those who skip it.

11. When you eat a meal it takes about ten minutes for your brain to get the message that you are full.

12. Making time for family meals means children and teens eat more nutritious foods.

13. Man has been able to duplicate Mother Nature by putting the nutrients the body needs in a vitamin and mineral pill.

Have you ever heard the expression "You are what you eat"? This is actually truer than you might imagine. A blood cell lasts for up to 120 days. Within four months, almost our entire blood supply is completely replaced by new cells. Within a year, your blood, tissues and even your bones are completely rebuilt. What is used to build your body? The nutrients from the food you eat. Eat densely nutritious foods and your body constructs itself with high-quality materials. Eat junk and ... well, your body builds itself with junk.

It's just like building a house. A well-built house, built from good materials, can last for hundreds of years with routine maintenance. But a house built from rotten timber and substandard supplies won't survive our Texas strong winds like we have in the spring.

Nutrition is a dynamic field. The basic principles are fairly stable, but nothing is absolute. Continue to read current articles and journals so you can keep up with new developments. You don't have to change everything at once. Every step in the right direction takes you closer to good health. When you make each change, make it totally. Don't tease your taste buds. Your taste will usually adapt within two to three weeks. Make a commitment to stick with any healthy change - without cheating - for three weeks. Three weeks is a lot shorter than forever. You can do it. Figure out what needs to be added, eliminated, or adapted. If you do these things, you will likely be amazed the changes you experience. It really isn't difficult to be healthier.

Nest week: Answers to the quiz + Pills, Potions, and Gadgets—three questions you should ask.

Disclaimer: Facts in these articles are obtained from medical and clinical journals, scientific publications, and published trade books. These articles have been written and published strictly for information purposes. Consult your health care provider for your specific medical needs. For any questions, comments or suggestions contact Maryella at maryella@4-spirit-soul-body.com or www.maryellajuiceplus.com