Want to feel healthier, stronger & more energetic? There’s no better place to start than with your eating habits.

Better nutrition contributes to longevity, a stronger immune system, and lower risk of chronic disease. Plus, being well-nourished gives you more energy, helps you think clearly, and boosts your mood.

But better nutrition does NOT mean going on the latest trendy diet. Decades of research reveal that diets just don’t work.

By prioritizing rapid weight loss over balanced nutrition, diets lead to feelings of deprivation, irritability, anxiety, fatigue and rebound weight gain. Chronic dieting can also lead to unhealthy changes in body composition, hormonal changes, reduced bone density, menstrual disturbances, and lower resting energy expenditure.

Yikes!

But if dieting isn’t the answer, then how can you improve your eating habits & reach your goals in a healthier & more achievable way?

We recommend taking a longer view of your nutrition habits. Rather than jumping on the diet bandwagon, start with these three simple strategies to kickstart your healthy eating.

1. Focus on Adding, not Subtracting

So often when people think about improving their nutrition, what immediately comes to mind is cutting out many of their favorite foods. But this is not realistic and just leads to feelings of deprivation.

Instead of focusing on what to eliminate, we encourage you to focus on what to ADD. A good starting point is to commit to getting at least 3 servings of vegetables & 2 servings of fruit per day. And as basic as this might seem, only 10% of Americans meet that minimum recommendation!

Filling up on delicious produce allows you to eat bigger portions for fewer calories, leaving you feeling more satisfied and less likely to be tempted by calorie-dense treats.

2. Focus on the Basics

Most diets make nutrition seem way too complicated. We’re told that we need to follow lots of specific rules and buy various supplements, bars & powders.

The good news is that you DON’T need to do that to get results! (It’s mostly just marketing hype.)

Instead of worrying about these minute, complicated (& often contradictory) details, focus on the basics of good nutrition.

For example, start with drinking 64 ounces of water per day. It may sound way too simple, but being properly hydrated sets the foundation for your good eating habits.

Water helps deliver nutrients to cells, enhances digestion, keeps organs functioning properly, and even helps us feel full and prevents false hunger pangs.

3. Have a Plan

Having goals is awesome, but if you don’t have a plan for how to get there, it’s like being lost without a map (or a GPS)! You might know where you ultimately want to end up, but you don’t know the steps you need to take to get there.

This is especially true when it comes to nutrition goals. We can’t just rely on good intentions to get results. We need a well-thought out plan with simple, achievable steps.