Updated by EmpowHER EmpowHER on Jan 15, 2016

Simple Healthy Eating Tips

Eating healthy can seem like an impossibility with all of the sugary sweets and tempting processed snacks at the palm of your hand. Making smart choices when grocery shopping and being aware of what you are putting into your body are just a couple ways that you can make a change in your eating habits.

When grocery shopping, buy as many non-processed foods as you can.

Spend time eating foods that have never been altered or cooked, like fruits and veggies and meat products. Doing this helps you to avoid unhealthy additives like excessive amounts of sugar. Focus on what you are buying and getting the nutrition you need from the healthiest options.

Reduce the amount of lightly processed foods you eat.

Cutting processed foods out of your diet entirely is unrealistic. Foods that have been lightly processed, like pasta, are difficult enough to make by scratch that splurging for already cooked pasta every now and then is not going to create a huge disturbance in the healthiness of your diet choices.

Put a lot of effort into avoiding foods that have been heavily processed.

Avoiding foods like cookies and chips can be a challenge, but doing so will help you to keep away from unwanted calories. Although there may not be any substantial evidence of harm that heavily processed foods can cause, keeping them out of your diet can help reduce extra snacking and extra pounds.

Stay out of restaurants and cook at home as much you can.

When you make your own food, you know exactly what ingredients you are consuming. Having absolute control over what you consume at a restaurant is much more difficult. You never know when you could be unknowingly consuming processed foods, eating at home will save you from the guesswork and also save you a few dollars.

When cooking, use butter, oil and salt in moderation.

Using fats to making your cooking taste delicious is not bad, but using them in excess can be unhealthy. Being moderate is necessary, as with most things. When you include fats and salts into your cooking, you give yourself more reason to enjoy the healthy cooking while still being healthier than you would be at a restaurant.

When you do venture in a restaurant, try to keep up the same standard as you would if you ate at home.

When you go to a restaurant, avoid processed foods just like you would at home. Try to pick an option that is made with fresh and healthy ingredients that you know will also be delicious. If you must, a light processed item will not break your diet.

Having your caffeine is okay, but make sure that most of what you are drinking is water.

Water can do amazing things for your body and helps keep it running smoothly. Drinking mostly water but occasionally other drinks is a good way to ease yourself out of drinking your favorite beverage every day- whether it be soda or coffee.

Avoid beverages that are high in calories.

You do not need beverages other than water to survive, and any other type of drink will contain calories. Being aware of the calories that are in your drinks may surprise you, as some may contain enough calories to be a full blown meal.

Stop eating alone and start doing it with the people you love.

Eating with other people will affect your eating habits in ways you may not expect- you might begin to eat more slowly and be more aware of the eating choices you are making. Additionally, eating with others might encourage you to cook your own food and food for others.