If you’re confused about how to make healthy eating easier, you’re not alone. Eat this, not that articles will do this. Instead, here are some simple ways to eat healthier.
My Simple Ways to Make Healthy Eating Easier: Try Them!
Are you looking for ways to make healthy eating easier? Many people subscribe to newsletters for tips on everything from aging gracefully to the best exercise routines to keeping their brains healthy. Yet, those dedicated to healthy eating may be the most popular. Besides, some of the best habits for happiness include doing things that are fun and not boring.
However, too much of a good thing may defeat the purpose. If you read too many articles, you may give up and go with the flow. I know the feeling. My solution is to take the best tips and use them regularly. Additionally, you may need help figuring out how to add new healthy habits.
Besides, my rule of thumb is if it works well, it’s worth doing again. This applies to everything from green tea and antioxidant-rich fruits to the best types of fish and beyond.
Still, I believe that simple is best. Here are some simple ways I use to make healthy eating easier.
Think Mediterranean
Mediterranean cuisine is one of my favorites. Besides, the Mediterranean diet is highly rated for its many health benefits. Additionally, almost everything touted in this diet type is delicious and easy to incorporate into your healthy eating habits.
Why I Love It
One of the healthiest foods (or food categories) in Mediterranean cuisine is fatty fish. My two favorites are salmon and tuna. Research published in the journal Nutrients (2020) found that fatty fish helps lower the risk of heart disease and heart attack. That’s because tuna and salmon are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.
Another key staple in Mediterranean cuisine is olive oil. A 2024 study found that olive oil, specifically extra virgin olive oil, or EVOO, offers protective benefits against cancer. Since cancer is the world’s second leading cause of death, incorporating olive oil into your healthy eating is something medical experts highly recommend.
- I use olive oil extensively in cooking and baking.
- Also, it’s the first oil I reach for, primarily because it’s healthy, but also because it’s delicious.
But let’s not forget nuts. Three of the best healthy nuts offer powerful health benefits. These include almonds, walnuts, and pistachios. So, eat them for snacks, use them in baking, or have them as a special treat.
Make Herbs and Spices Your Friend
Bland food is never very tasty. It reminds me of hospital food —basically flavorless. If you like a bit of zest, start adding herbs and spices to your recipes. Here are some I use regularly:
Sweet Basil
This is one of my go-to choices for adding flavor to stews, soups, pasta sauce, salads, tuna salad, eggs, and much more.
Cinnamon
Many of my desserts call for cinnamon, which is one of my favorite additions.
Lemon Garlic Pepper
I love garlic, yet the convenience of lemon garlic pepper is excellent. I season whole chickens with it and use it on fish.
Rosemary
Rosemary is rich in antioxidants and is a key herb in Mediterranean cooking. Besides the excellent flavor rosemary adds to meals, it also goes well with olive oil, a Mediterranean diet staple.
Thyme
Thyme adds so much flavor to soups and stews, and it’s also part of seasoned rubs for various meats and poultry.
Oregano
Like sweet basil, oregano is a much-used herb in our household. I add it to soups, stews, chili, pizza, and many other items.
Paprika
The tangy flavor of paprika is another culinary staple. I put it on chicken and use it in stews, egg salad, potato salad, chili, fish, and more.
Cumin
I don’t use cumin as much as I should, but my spouse regularly adds it to chili and a few other dishes.
Chili Powder
Chili powder is a must-have for chili, but it also works well in other recipes.
Go Big on Green to Make Healthy Eating Easier
From leafy greens in salads to arugula and spinach in soups and stews, it’s easy to add flavor and healthy ingredients to your diet. However, green also applies to green tea, a staple in my daily food routine. Both are excellent ways to treat your body better.
Choose From Many Delicious Greens for Salads
My salad favorites include baby spinach, mixed greens, 50/50 blends, butterhead lettuce, Bibb lettuce, arugula, and red- or green-leaf lettuce. One very encouraging health benefit is that older adults who eat leafy greens daily can reduce or slow cognitive decline. That’s something everyone can appreciate.
The main reasons for the higher brain support are the antioxidants, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin K in leafy greens.
- Besides using them in salads, I add leafy greens (spinach, arugula, beet tops) to soups and stews.
- Another delicious way to incorporate leafy greens into your daily diet is to use them in sandwiches and wraps. But if you don’t eat gluten and don’t have gluten-free options, make your wrap with lettuce leaves.
- Finally, don’t forget to add spinach or arugula to egg dishes (omelets, scrambled, quiche).
Drink More Water for Better Digestion
One healthy eating tip I really recommend is drinking more water daily. It not only improves your digestion, but it’s essential for every bodily organ. Besides, you can think of water like the fluids in a car that keep it running smoothly. Without them, your vehicle won’t last long or get you very far.
Easy Ways to Add Water
If the idea of drinking 16-ounce glasses of water at a time makes you cringe, space your water intake. Here are some easy ways to do that.
- You can drink a few sips before, during, and after meals.
- Also, drink water when you first get up and before you go to bed.
- Besides, if you wake in the night to use the bathroom, drink a few more sips then. I always keep a full glass of water on the counter so it’s handy.
- If you’re hungry and a meal isn’t readily available, drink a full glass of water. You’ll be satisfied and well-hydrated.
- Furthermore, drink water before, during, and after exercising. When you exercise, you can quickly dehydrate, so replenishing fluids with water is necessary.
Furthermore, drinking water is one of the best ways to increase your energy.
Indulge Your Sweet Tooth Sensibly to Make Healthy Eating Easier
Do you enjoy eating dessert now and then? In our household, I’m the one who makes tasty desserts. But I know how to keep them healthy and delicious with simple substitutes for fattening oils, sugars, and other ingredients that add calories and fat.
However, just because I choose to bake gluten-free and dairy-free desserts, there’s no sacrifice in flavor. Besides, how delicious do these sound?
- Cranberry-Chocolate-Almond Muffins
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
- Blueberry Banana Power Muffins
- Carrot Cake Muffins with Golden Raisins, Pecans, and Shredded Coconut
- Banana Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins with Walnuts
- Almond Flour Apple Muffins
- Coconut Flour Chocolate Cake
- Almond Flour Lemon Cake
- Vegan and Paleo Brownies
- Paleo Chocolate Zucchini Bread
The secret ingredients often include almond or coconut flour, unsweetened applesauce, unsweetened coconut, gluten-free, dairy-free dark chocolate, organic honey, avocado oil, and bananas.
So, if you want to make healthy eating easier, do what I do: Make it fun, be sure it’s delicious, and do it daily. Above all, tailor your menus to suit your taste, style, and how much time you have to prepare meals.
