Eat Healthily: Experts Say You Should Start Small And Keep It Simple

Many people have decided to eat healthier so that they could look and feel more attractive. However, they have discovered that wanting something is different from actually achieving it.

Eat healthily

Start small by choosing healthier snacks before you tackle meal choices.

Wilson recommends eating smaller portions of food or stopping when you are full.

Some other suggestions are to not skip breakfast, eat slower so that hormones can signal the brain when one is full, drink more water, shop with a shopping list to avoid impulse purchases or substitute a healthier side for an unhealthy one.

Wilson suggests that you don't try to make too many adjustments at once.

What is the healthiest type of food?

When possible, healthy eating means choosing whole foods which are as close to their original form as possible and have not been processed or refined.

Young advises that if you're unsure which foods haven't been heavily processed, choose fruits and vegetables.

What are the worst foods to eat?

Knowing which foods to eat and which to avoid is just as important. Young advises that you should avoid ultra-processed food high in salt and sugar.

Wilson is in agreement with the idea of eating more at home. She says that eating out of the house is a major cause of excess sodium and saturated fatty acids in the American diet. Most restaurant foods that seem healthy have higher sodium and saturated-fat levels than the food you would prepare at home.

Is healthy eating difficult to maintain?

Wilson says that eating healthy shouldn't overwhelm you and is all about making small choices throughout the day. She suggests that you swap out beef with chicken or fish. You can also choose between sour cream and cheese instead of both. Or, you could order salsa rather than guacamole.

Walter Willett MD, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health advises those who want an all-encompassing solution to avoid overcomplicating matters and stresses the flexibility and options available.

He suggests starting with whole grains and healthy oils ("That's how we get the majority of our calories," says Willett), and then adding vegetables and fruits, "with an emphasis on plant proteins" and modest amounts of dairy, eggs, fish, and poultry. He recommends that you "minimize red meat, refined starches, sugar, and beverages (especially in the form of drinks)." "Put an emphasis on quality, variety, and enjoyment. "Don't overcomplicate it."