Ask anyone if they think their diet could be healthier and the answer you’ll likely hear is yes. Why then do we continue our unhealthy eating habits? Because many people equate healthy eating with sacrificing flavor.

The truth is there’s a wide variety of flavorful foods that fall into the healthy category. You may even be able to enjoy your favorite foods by making a few simple adjustments.

Flavored Beverage Additives

Before looking at what you eat, it may be best to focus on what you drink. After all, your body can survive weeks without food (as unpleasant as that is), but it can only go a few days without hydration. Many beverages also contain a lot of empty calories with little nutritional value.

Let’s start with what you drink in the morning. Many people reach for a cup of coffee, which is an extremely healthy beverage. But then they add cream and sugar. Instead, reach for flavored syrups. They will add a touch of sweetness without adding a ton of sugar, calories, and fat.

If you’re a milk drinker in the morning you’ll get a healthy supply of vitamin D and other minerals. However, you may want to replace the whole milk with skim milk. Skim milk has the same amount of calcium, protein, and vitamins without the saturated fat. If you have a craving for chocolate, stir in a little sugar-free chocolate syrup.

What about water? The majority of American adults are chronically dehydrated and don’t consume near the recommended amount of water. Dehydration can cause a number of health problems and make it more difficult to lose weight.

Many people complain that water is just too bland for their likely. The good news is that plain taste means it’s the perfect base for flavoring. You can add fresh fruit for a surge of flavor and nutrients. There are also a number of powered and liquid flavorings that can be added to water to make it more appealing.

Drinking up is important, but there are two beverages you need to steer clear of it want to get healthy. Those drinks are soda and sugary fruit juice. Both can expand your waistline and cause more harm than good. Even diet sodas aren’t the best option for hydration.

Fuel Up at Breakfast and Eat Less at Night

It turns out breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. If you’re going to have a big meal with proteins and fat, breakfast is the time to do it. This makes complete sense when you

consider that food is fuel for the body. At the start of the day you a lot more need energy than at night when you’re getting to sleep for eight hours.

Metabolism is another reason to make time for breakfast. Eating in the more actually jumpstarts your metabolism so that you burn more calories throughout the day. Breakfast also helps keep your glucose levels steady all day long so your energy doesn’t crash.

Some things to include in your breakfast are:

* Fruits

* Calcium

* Protein

* Fiber

Eating a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. It’s as easy as making a fiber-rich bowl of cereal with skim milk and sliced fruit. On those mornings when you’re running behind grab one or two VitaTops MuffinTops before heading to work. By the time I get there the muffin tops are thawed out and ready to eat. The pair great with coffee and provide vital nutrients.

Watch Your Portions

French women are known for having good physiques while still indulging in rich foods. Their secret – eating small portions when they indulge.

It’s a word of advice that’s shared by the USDA as well. ChooseMyPlate.gov is a fantastic resource for eating delicious foods in healthy portion sizes.

The site uses a plate diagram to show you how much of certain food groups you should eat. There are also diet recommendations for different age groups, which makes healthy eating easy for the entire family. You can put together a plan based on your dietary needs and budget.

Following a healthy diet doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor and eating nothing but salads. Pay attention to what you drink, fuel up with a healthy breakfast and watch those portions to get yourself off to a great start.