An overwhelming 95% of Americans try to seek out healthy diet options but only 28% of people saying that it’s easy to find these products. This is partially due to misleading advertising and confusion over what is actually considered “healthy” food.

But don’t give up hope just yet! If you want to start eating better, there are a few steps you can take.

Do you want to know more? Keep reading to learn how to start a healthy diet today.

Define Your Goals

Before you hit the grocery store, take a few minutes to define your goals.

Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to get more fresh fruits and veggies into your diet? Or maybe you want to focus on building muscle?

There are a lot of different health goals out there, and what diet you choose will vary based on what you want to achieve.

For example, after reading Monsanto Roundup lawsuits, you may want to avoid all foods treated with pesticides by opting for locally grown produce instead. But if you want to lower your cholesterol, you’ll have to be serious about avoiding red meat, full-fat dairy, and sweets.

Avoid Crash Diets

Once you know what your goals are, you can start researching different diet plans. There are tons of options out there, so take your time to ensure you pick the best one to meet your needs.

But it’s important to avoid any crash diets. Skipping meals actually causes your body to increase the caloric intake for your next meal, which can make it difficult to lose weight. Additionally, you don’t want to sacrifice your overall well-being in the name of weight loss.

Instead, make sure your diet allows you to eat enough of the nutrients you need, including protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Don’t Forget to Drink Water

Drinking water has so many benefits, such as providing energy, improving your complexion, boosting your immune system, and even helping you lose weight.

Make sure you keep a reusable water bottle on you to remind yourself to drink more. You can even find ones that track your intake, so you know exactly how much you’re drinking.

Consider getting a water bottle with a built-in infuser. This will allow you to add fruits, vegetables, or herbs to your water to give it extra flavor and nutrients. Plus, it lowers the chance that you’ll resort to sugary juices and sodas.

Start Slow

It can be all too easy to try to jump right into a strict diet. But change is hard, especially when you’re still craving junk food.

Instead, consider starting out slow. It’ll be easier for you to stick to your new diet long-term by making gradual changes in your eating habits instead of attempting a complete overhaul overnight.

How to Start a Healthy Diet

Eating well doesn’t have to be so hard. Just follow our tips to learn how to start a healthy diet. From setting goals to starting slow, there are plenty of ways you can make the transition to a healthier lifestyle easier.

Do you want to pair your new healthy eating plan with regular exercise? Then check out these tips to find a budget-friendly gym in your area.