It doesn't have to be so hard - Five tips for healthier eating

Let's be honest - making dietary changes and eating healthy can pose some challenges. Diets can seem boring, busy schedules can cause you to hit the fast food drive thru, and fads can make the concept of healthy eating quite confusing. Here are five tips that can help you eat healthier:

Replace toppings, condiments, etc. that add fat with healthy alternatives: A few examples include adding low-fat nutrient-packed salsa to a baked potato (surprisingly tasty!) as opposed to butter/sour cream or trying a spicy mustard as opposed to mayo on a turkey sandwich.

Add variety to your menu by seeking out new veggies/fruits: Bored by broccoli? Let down by lettuce? Try visiting a farmer's market and seeking out new flavors that you can add to a salad or stir-fry or to snack on. Or, if you can, start a garden and grow something different - Tending a garden will give you some added exercise also (RunPhones are perfect for gardening!).

Try a new recipe: Keeping with the diets-don't-have-to-be-boring theme, seek out new, healthy recipes. Buy a new cookbook, or simply do a Google search.

Freeze healthy meals to keep on hand for "emergencies": Sudden schedule changes like staying after work unexpectedly can drive you to the drive thru because you don't have time to make dinner. So keep healthy leftovers or prepared meals handy in the freezer and ready for the microwave. In the time it takes to go out of your way to hit a fast food place, you can have dinner ready.

Talk to your doctor: Your family doctor may have resources available like where to find healthy food or even personal suggestions like recipes, tips, etc. Your health is their interest.