Is food healthy or healthful?

It could be both! Here's the skinny.

If something is healthy, that means it's in good condition. For example, if you eat right and exercise, you're probably healthy.

On the other hand, if food is good for you, it's healthful! This is one that people get wrong all the time. They call food healthy when they actually mean that it's good for you—it's healthful!

There's a subtlety, however, that folks probably don't usually consider. Food can be both healthful and healthy! How's that, you ask? Well, spinach is good for you; it's healthful. However, if the farmer did a good job fertilizing his plants and keeping the bugs away, he probably also grows some fine specimens! His spinach is healthy! So, his spinach is both healthful and healthy!