An old saying goes “you are what you eat,” but healthy eating can be a challenge that many of us who struggle with in our fast paced and modern society. Too often, the pressures to eat badly catch-up to us and leads us to make decisions we know we should not, like eating that doughnut during a meeting or eating an entire bag of potato chips while watching television. These tips provide some healthy guidelines for making good decisions regarding the food you eat.

Eat regular meals
Regular meals are an important part of any healthy diet. They can help keep your metabolism going – breakfast has a huge impact on starting your metabolism – and help you feel satisfied throughout the day. Skipping meals because you don’t have time to eat can lead to being overly hungry later, and that feeling of starvation does not always lead to health conscious food choices.

Watch your portions
When a restaurant gives you a helping of pasta, don’t assume that they gave you a serving. Learn to recognize the right portions for different food. A piece of meat the size of your palm, for example, counts as about one serving.

Keep track of your liquids
The average American gets a fifth of their daily calories from drinks, not what they eat. Making smart drink choices can help to lead to a healthier lifestyle, especially if calories are a concern. Get juice that says 100% juice on the label to get the most out of those calories. You can also try adding some water to the juice to dilute it and the number of calories in a glass. When out on the town with friends, try getting light beer instead of cocktails. Your waistline will thank you.