10 Ways To Eat Healthy

Can ten ways to eat healthy add fun to your diet, too? You bet. According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy eating does not have to be boring or tiresome. Flavor, creativity, and a few new ideas can transform your meals and motivate you to eat healthier.

Here are ten ways to eat healthy that will add a little pizzazz to your meals while they keep you on track:

1. Think green. In fact, the Mayo Clinic suggests that you “go greener.” Vary your salad greens for more flavor, texture, and nutritive value. In addition to your iceberg lettuce standby, consider arugula, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, and other salad greens.
2. Think beans. In addition to various greens, consider adding beans to your salads. Try chickpeas or black beans. Beans add pizzazz to salads, and they are good for your health, too.
3. Think tofu. Use tofu in your stir-fry meals. For example, use firm tofu instead of meat in your Asian stir-fry dishes. For a firm and chewy texture, the Mayo Clinic suggests that you freeze and then thaw the tofu before use.
4. Think salsa. Spicing up your meal will add pizzazz as well as health benefits. You already use salsa with chips. But did you know that salsa is also great with potatoes and other vegetables, as well as with fish, chicken, other meats, and eggs?
5. Think herbs. Herbs and spices are another way to eat healthy and flavorful meals. Add cilantro, rosemary, chopped chives, and other herbs to your vegetable and meat dishes for health benefits and added punch.
6. Think short. Sometimes a small, nutritious snack is healthier than a full meal. Spread a rice cake with cheese and strawberries. Try a corn muffin with slices of apple and cheese. Or eat baked tortilla chips with salsa.
7. Think sneaky. One way to eat healthier is to sneak nutrition into your meal. Add wheat bran or crushed bran cereal to baked foods like meatloaf, bread, muffins, and cake. Or use bran as a crunchy topping for salads and casseroles.
8. Think multitasking. A single dish can serve as a full meal for quick, simple, and healthy cooking. For example, make a beef, barley, and vegetable stew. Or try a chicken, vegetable, and rice casserole.
9. Think ethnic. Explore the world. Discover the flavors of Mexico, India, Greece, France, and Asia. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the world’s most intriguing ingredients are as healthy as they are flavorful. Quinoa, edamame, bok choy, and bulgur are four examples.
10. Think creatively. To eat healthy, think creatively. Get of your eating rut. Experiment with new foods or new combinations. Do you eat your toast with peanut butter or honey? Add a slice of peach or mango, too. Toss a few orange slices into your vegetable salad. Get creative.

Maybe you are just starting a healthy eating plan. Or you may have been eating a healthy diet for years. Either way, you can benefit from following these ten ways to eat healthy. They are simple changes that anyone can make to jazz up meals and sneak in a little more nutrition, too.