Most of us want to be healthier, whether that means shedding a few (or more) pounds, lowering our cholesterol, staving off disease, increasing our energy, or just feeling better, in general.
 Part of better health means eating better. There are so many tips, suggestions, and advice out there about what to eat, how much to eat, and how to eat that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, eating better doesn’t have to be complicated or frustrating. Here are eight quick and easy tips to help you eat better and get healthier:
Keep it simple and start slowly.
Don’t try to make drastic changes to your diet and eating habits in one day. It will simply be too much for you to handle and you’ll be tempted to slip back into your old eating habits. If you truly want to eat better and become healthier, start slowly and simply.
Write what you eat.
Keeping a “food journal” or “food diary” of what you eat helps you to keep track of everything single thing you put into your mouth so you’re aware of what you’re eating and to potentially locate areas for improvement or changes that need to be made.
Eat breakfast every day.
Scientific research has proved time and time again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives you energy for the day and helps prevent overeating at lunch and dinner time.
Stay adequately hydrated.
It’s true that staying properly hydrated keeps you healthy, prevents you from overeating, and keeps your body from feeling sluggish by removing toxins. Don’t feel you have to down eight glasses of water each day, however—hydration can come from other sources, such as milk, sugar-free fruit juice, and watery fruits and vegetables (watermelon, cucumbers). Even sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks can hydrate you, but these should certainly not be your first choices.
Eat when you’re hungry.
Avoid eating just because the food is there; similarly, don’t let your stomach growl for hours before satisfying your hunger—you’ll only sabotage your weight-loss efforts.
Eat slowly and consciously.
This sounds like a basic tip, but it really is a hard one for many people. We are so used to eating quickly or as part of another activity—standing up, in front of the T.V., in the car, on the go, etc. Learn to really appreciate food and enjoy eating as its own activity, and you’ll be able to not only better savor the flavors, but also eat less.
Be careful with portions.
Even if you’re eating healthfully, if you eat too much and don’t burn it all off, you’ll gain weight. It’s that simple. Obesity puts you at risk for a whole host of health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.
Portion control is a concept lost on most North Americans, who are used to trying to cram eating in to their busy lifestyles to the point where they don’t realize how much they’ve actually eaten, and don’t notice when they become full.
If portioning your snacks and meals is a problem for you, try putting one helping of your meal on your plate and pack the rest of it up right away so you aren’t tempted to have seconds. For snacks, portion it out first on your plate—never eat straight out of the bag, box, or container.
Don’t deprive yourself of a “guilty” pleasure.
If you have a “guilty” pleasure for something (e.g., chocolate), don’t cut it out of your diet all together. Find small ways to satisfy your cravings so you don’t feel like you’re being deprived and risk binging down the road.
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I've struggled trying to eat healthy foods and stay away from fried and fatty (the good stuff!) foods - and it's only made me feel better over time and I actually feel more energized with my new diet.