5 Tips for Eating Healthy

Tip #1: Some types of fats are actually good for you! Foods high in healthy fats include olive oil, nuts, natural nut butter, seeds, avocado, fish, flaxseed, and flaxseed oil. According to UCLA Health, the benefits of consuming fats include lowering the risk of developing heart disease, improving blood cholesterol levels, helping with blood sugar control and reducing inflammation.

Tip #2: If you can’t access fresh produce, canned fruits or veggies are also a great option. Canned produce is a nutritious and cost-effective option — but can also contain sneaky ingredients like added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium so be sure to read nutrition labels to choose products that keep those ingredients to a minimum.

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Tip #3: Whenever possible eat whole foods. If you want to eat healthier, choose foods that are in their natural form and avoid processed foods — the fewer ingredients, the better.

Tip #4: It can take 10 or more tastes for a child to accept a new vegetable. Patience and persistence are key when it comes to introducing children to the bitter flavors of vegetables, don’t give up!

Tip #5: Drinking fruit juice isn’t the same as adding fruit to your diet. Fruit juice is high in added sugar and lacks fiber. A 12-ounce cup of fruit juice contains roughly 10 teaspoons of sugar, the same amount found in a 12-ounce can of soda. To increase your fruit consumption, choose whole fruit. To quench your thirst, choose water.