Eat plenty of greens

No real surprise here, but you should aim to fill half your plate with fruits and greens at every meal. If you’re struggling on how to incorporate them, check out a few ideas RIGHT HERE.

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Drink a lot of water

There are a surprising amount of perks to consuming enough water. Water helps you feel full (so you’ll snack less), it helps keep your skin clear, it also helps fight fatigue. The hardest part is actually remembering to drink it early and often.

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Seek out delicious combinations

A healthy combination can pack a powerful & healthy punch, so try and find a few foods you enjoy and pair them. According to Danielle Omar, a registered dietician, the ideal snack is either ‘protein and produce’ or ‘protein and carbs’. Try options like watermelon, feta, and spinach and sliced avocado with cherry tomatoes together. Carbs alone process into sugar too quickly and don't always get burnt off.

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Keep an eye on carbs

Carbs are an essential part of your diet, but because much of their energy doesn’t get used, your body stores them as fat. A low-carb lifestyle has become popular, but don’t get carried away. Before you consider cutting them out altogether, think about eating better carbs. Authority Nutrition says that certain starches, found in foods like potatoes, cashews and raw oats are resistant to digestion and improve metabolic health.

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Eat a fiber-full breakfast

Try to keep an eye out for cereal that contains seven grams or more. That way you’ve met your fiber quota all in one bowl and you’re ahead before you’ve even finished breakfast. According to experts, upping fiber intake “helps control the insulin spike caused by eating refined carbohydrates.”

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Eat plenty of nuts

A healthy intake of nuts has plenty of the good fats, vitamin E and much more. Try out Brazil nuts, pistachios, and almonds in single-serving bags, which are ideal for keeping in a desk drawer or purse.

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Watch your sodium intake

We know too much is bad for your heart, but the American Heart Association wants to remind you that salt can also cause problems like water retention. Because a majority of Americans get a bulk of their salt from eating processed foods, try your hand at homemade pizza instead of frozen for family pizza night. In fact, stay away from the frozen dinner aisle in general.

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Keep it up whenever your out

Social get-togethers can be a disaster for all of your healthy intentions. Along with the delicious smells and a growling stomach, peer pressure can easily rear its head and derail your progress. To stay in control, try checking the menu online and deciding on a healthy option before you go.

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Keep an eye on your calorie intake

Don’t try and drive yourself crazy by completely cutting ice cream out of your diet, just consume it in moderation. Eating it straight from the tub is asking for trouble. Use a ramekin or small dish and stop before you’re full.

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Snack, but snack well

We all hit those points in the day where we’re hungry and time is an issue. Pre-planning your snacks and making sure they contain something like carrots and hummus, Greek yogurt or even an apple as a healthy snack substitute.

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Ween yourself off sugar

The average American consumes around 22 teaspoons of sugar per day, over twice the recommended dose of nine. Sugar affects the brain like a drug, in that you can build up a tolerance and will need more and more sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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