Is your diet healthy or healthful?
• healthy vs. healthful
The rule: Some people insist that healthy be used only to mean “in good health” and only for people or animals. They say healthful should be used if the meaning is “good for your health” or "promoting good health." So it should be:
→ The children are healthy.
→ The children have a healthful diet.
However, healthy has been used for both meanings since the 1500s and is much more common than healthful today, especially when used with words like diet, foods, and exercise. In addition, healthy often sounds more natural.
Advice: Dictionaries accept healthy for both uses, and in most cases healthy is a better choice. Still, keep in mind, some teachers and editors insist on healthful if the meaning is "promotes good health."
→ Maintaining a healthy/healthful diet is essential.
→ Exercise is essential if you want to be healthy.
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