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Many people think that the way to be healthy and lose weight means eating less. But starving yourself or trying out a fad diet is neither a safe or effective way to meet your weight loss goals. Eating well is an important part of your overall health. Read on to find out how to improve your eating habits to improve your well-being.

Don’t Skip Meals

Starving yourself is not a good solution for long-term weight loss. Studies show that eating breakfast helps you consume fewer total calories for the day. This doesn’t mean eating a full bacon and egg breakfast every morning. Try to eat a healthy breakfast of cereal, fresh fruit and yogurt. Try high-fibre foods that have lots of bulk to keep you full. A great way to get a good dose of fibre is to start your day with a high-fibre cereal.

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If you get hungry throughout the day, eat!  Do not deny your body the food it needs to function. The trick is to have smaller meals along with two or three snacks throughout the day. It is surprising how a small, healthy snack can keep you energized. Keep healthy snacks handy at work, school, at home and in your car so you won't be tempted to grab some fast food or an unhealthy treat. If you listen to your body and eat when you need to, you won’t run the risk of overeating at mealtimes.

Eat Natural/Organic

It’s best to cut out processed, chemical-laden foods from your diet. Natural, fresh, raw, or home-cooked meals are best when you’re trying to become healthier. Though it may seem easy and quick to heat up a prepackaged meal, preparing your own food results in greater nutritional benefits. Plus, there will be less man-made ingredients going into your body!

Consider not only what’s in your food, but also what’s on it!  Strong evidence suggests that the amount of toxins in and on our food is increasing. Most pesticide residue can’t be removed with water alone. Organic farming keeps many of these harmful chemicals and pesticides out of the food we eat. However, even organic produce is not completely immune. It can be exposed to everything from contaminated rain or irrigation water, animal feces, fertilizers, or bacteria from human contact. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) lists produce that contain the most pesticides, the list includes apples, celery, red peppers and strawberries; try buying these organic as much as you can.  But remember to wash them properly!  Try a produce wash to get rid of all the bad things you can’t see and check out our demo video for more information!

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Eat a Balanced Diet

Eating a balanced diet comprised of a variety of foods is the best way to eat for a healthier you.

Remember that any changes you make to your diet should be done slowly. Trying to make your diet healthy overnight isn’t realistic or smart.  Changing everything at once usually leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan.

Make small steps, like adding a salad or extra veggies or fruit to your diet once a day.  As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices to your diet. Try to eat a variety of foods to obtain all of the essential nutrients. Also consider that everyone's plate will look slightly different - we all have different requirements depending on our body’s shape and size, and our levels of activity. Following a food guide can help you make healthy meal choices and give you an idea of how much of each type of food you should be eating every day. Canada's Food Guide is a good resource that can help you plan a balanced diet that suits your individual needs.

Remember this is a lifestyle change, not just a temporary diet. Take it step by step, little by little and you’ll be sure to reach your goals!

Do you have any great tips on eating for a healthier you? We’d love to hear them. Post a comment to this blog!