One of the best ways to ensure you succeed, no matter which diet you decide on, is to adopt healthy eating habits. This is not just about cutting out sweets or reducing your calorie intake, it is about having an approach to food that will follow you throughout your life, about establishing a relationship with food that is comfortable and more importantly natural for you. It will take practice though until it becomes habit.

1. Snack Healthy

Part of the challenge of sticking to a diet is the bad habit of unhealthy snacking. Retrain yourself to eat healthy snacks. Facts are facts, you will still snack between meals and that’s actually a good thing to do, just ensure that what you’re snacking on gives your body what it needs, energy and nutrients.

The easiest way to snack healthy is to think ahead. Prepare for snacking. These are just a few ideas for some handy and tasty snacks that are easily portable and will satisfy that “snacking” need: prepare fresh or dried fruit, raw vegetables with low fat dip or fill a small container with a handful of nuts or low fat yogurt.

2. Wide Variety of Healthy Food

The saying is true, variety is the spice of life. If you have variety in your diet you’re more likely to enjoy what you’re eating. Make sure your eating plan includes a wide variety of foods. Choose foods you enjoy eating and eat them in moderation. Too much of anything isn’t a good thing.

3. Add Fiber to Feel Full

Many dieters complain that the portions recommended aren’t filling. By incorporating more fiber into your diet not only will you benefit your health but it will also make you feel full and satisfied.

4. Nine Servings of Fruit and Vegetables Daily

Many health experts recommend nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day as part of a healthy diet. That may seem like a lot but it really itn’t. It works out to about 4 ½ cups. Not only can this approach provide delicious and energy boosting snacks and meals but these servings can help lower cholesterol levels also. For vegetarians and raw food enthusiasts, more fruits and vegetables means less room and need for meats and dairy in their diet. And reducing our dairy and meat intake reduces cholesterol- boosting saturated fat. That’s a good thing for your heart.

Keep these pointers in mind when choosing fruits:

• Choose fruits in season. Locally grown food is naturally fresher, it’s a tastier alternative and it is better for the environment as well. Purchaseing locally grown food helps decrease the demand for foods that must be transported cross country to fulfill consumer needs. Less transportation equals less pollution

• Add fruit to salads, as toppings, to desserts and snacks.

• Limit your intake of fruit juices. Opt for whole fruits as snacks rather than juice since many fruit juices have very high sugar content.

• Select fresh fruits if at all possible; if it’s not then, choose fruits canned in water or juice rather than syrup.

Handy tips for selecting and eating vegetables:

• Limit the amount of starchy vegetables such as potatoes.

• Colorful vegetables as well as fruits provide a wide range of vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals your body uses to maintain good health and energy levels. So make sure you make your meals colorful.

• Orange and yellow vegetables and fruits contain varying amounts of antioxidants such as vitamin C and when included as part of a low-fat diet may help to maintain a healthy heart, vision health and a healthy immune system. So eat more orange and yellow vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, winter squash and sweet potatoes.

• When it comes to choosing green leafy vegetables remember the darker the better! Incorporate more dark-green vegetables like broccoli, kale and spinach into your diet.

For over 20 years, Diana Walker has assisted people like you in using natural, safe options for creating vibrant health and well-being. Get her gems of wisdom and healthy recipes mini- e-book via her free newsletter at: http://www.diana2.com