The Best Ways to Eat Healthy

Overview

Healthy eating doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, meals that are more basic are preferable, as you have a better idea of what goes into them. Rather than focusing on a specific diet, try eating a variety of foods and eating frequently. When you skip meals, you risk getting cravings and overeating, as your body will try to compensate for the lack of food.

Step 1

Make a list of the foods you like in each food group. This will make it easy to create combinations you will enjoy, without having to worry about missing out on nutrients. For example, the carbohydrate group can include brown rice, whole wheat bread, rye, oats and beans. The protein group can list fish, low-fat dairy and skinless chicken. When cooking, pick one item from each group to ensure you get an optimum combination of nutrients.

Step 2

Keep it simple. The more ingredients you combine, the harder it is to control the amount of calories, fat and sugars the dish contains. Use herbs for flavoring; this keeps the calories and sodium content down while providing plenty of taste. When eating out, order sauces and dressing on the side, so you can add just a small amount.

Step 3

Use salt and sugar as a small complement, not as a big part of your meals. If you want to have a small treat, eat a single cookie with unsweetened tea or milk, instead of having two donuts or a whole chocolate bar. You're still satisfying your sweet tooth, but getting some calcium or water along with it.

Step 4

Eat less animal protein and more vegetable protein. Beans, soy, lentils, tempeh and tofu are all sound sources of protein that don't contain saturated fat. Make sure at least a few meals every week are vegetarian. When eating meat, choose lean cuts of beef, turkey or fish. Always grill or bake your meats, rather than frying them.