5 tips for having a healthy diet

1. Don’t worry too much about rules

Yoga instructor Carrie Seyer explains that “when nourishing your body with foods, listen to what it needs. Discard dogma and food rules, and eat for fuel and energy, whatever that may be for that day.” She says you shouldn’t be afraid to eat as much as you can, as long as it’s whole unprocessed foods. The occasional splurge or two is also fine.

2. Stay practical

Julie Odato, certified personal trainer and Program Director at Jump Start Retreats in the Catskills, says “Improving your eating habits is a process of being practical, not perfect. There are some specific foods that, realistically you know you will not live without. So, work with that. Keep that food to once a week or once a month instead of failing at never [eating it].”

3. You don’t have to know a bunch of recipes

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s okay to keep it simple. Chef Devin Alexander, of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, says that “despite what some people may believe, healthy eating doesn’t require complex recipes — or any recipes at all. I make it a point to cook a lot of lean proteins, veggies and a high quality grains like quinoa so when my day slips away, I always have healthy pre-cooked foods on hand to throw together to make a meal.”

4. Make use of the 10:1 rule

For every 10 grams of carbohydrate listed on the label, look for at least one gram of fibre. That’s the ratio of carbohydrate to fibre in a genuine, unprocessed whole grain. This magic ratio comes from a study published in the Public Health Nutrition Journal which evaluated hundreds of grain products.

5. Make your goals about actions, not a number on a scale

David Chesworth, fitness specialist at Hilton Head Health (H3), says he sees people make this mistake all the time. “We are creatures that desire instant gratification. I hear ‘I want to lose 20 pounds,’ all the time. This is not a goal that easily sets you up for success… [Instead, make your goals things like] going for a 30 minute power walk, or going to your favorite Zumba class after work on Fridays. As soon as you finish that Zumba class, you feel accomplished and fulfilled.”