There are a lot of ways to lead a healthy lifestyle, but at its true core is what we’re putting in our body, day in and day out. With the overwhelming amount of diets and guidelines, it can all feel a little overwhelming at times, so we’re here today to share five simple ways to eat healthier that will keep you feeling good and balanced.

5 Simple Ways to Eat Healthier

1. Jump Start the Day with a Big Glass of Water

Before you put any caffeine or food in your body, we encourage you to jump start your day by drinking a big glass of water. This allows your body to rehydrate and wake up after you’ve been sleeping all night. A hydrated body helps maintain bodily functions and brain activity as well as flush out the toxins your body can store. So, make a habit out of it and grab that glass of water right after your brush your teeth!

2. Don’t Skip Breakfast!

You’ve probably been told breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, and it’s true! Your body and brain are running on empty when you wake up, so having a small meal in the morning will help keep your appetite in check all day. In addition, making sure your body gets nourishment in the morning will help increase your energy and focus. Plus, it may help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

To dive in deeper to the importance of eating breakfast, click here, and be sure to check out our simple breakfast ideas!

3. Swap Processed Foods with Whole Foods

Processed foods are loaded with salt, sugar, fat, preservatives, or calories and when it comes to healthy eating, those are 5 things you definitely want to minimize as much as possible. Most processed foods have almost twice the daily recommended amount of these ingredients so making the swap with whole foods will be your best bet in leading a healthy lifestyle!

Whole foods, including quinoa, brown rice, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables (and much more), will nourish your body in the right ways and keep you satisfied for longer periods of time.

4. Decrease Your Sugar Intake

While sugary foods and drink can provide a quick high of energy, they also come with an energy crash and an increased risk of weight gain, obesity and tooth decay. There are many products available that claim they are healthy but in reality, they simply aren’t. Keep in mind, the maximum amount of sugar you should have a day are: 150 calories per day (37.5g) and 100 calories per day (25g) for men and women, respectively. So, before you indulge in sugary snacks or products that claim to be healthy, flip the packaging over and take a look at the sugar content and try to avoid products that have “added sugar.”

5. Kick Those Empty Calorie Cravings to the Curb

Let’s face it, some days we’ve got a hankering for salty and sweet snacks. Typically, these kinds of cravings are associated with an emotional imbalance. Whether you’re feeling stressed, frustrated, drained, or simply overwhelmed with the day-to-day, our bodies can gravitate to those empty calories for comfort.

Before you reach for the pint of ice cream or that crunchy bag of chips, try these alternatives:

• Exercise! Even if it’s just a walk around the block or a 10-minute meditation, pivoting to exercise when you’re having those not-so-great cravings can kick them straight to the curb!
• Drink a big glass of water! We’ve touched on the importance of water above and sometimes those cravings sneak in when our bodies are actually just dehydrated and asking for water.
• If exercise and a big glass of water still leave you wanting a little extra something, try air-popped popcorn, crunchy produce like apples or carrots, or a healthy smoothie instead!

Eating well is an important step in staying healthy and we hope these tips have helped you on your journey. If you have any additional tips that have helped you stay healthy, please comment below!