If your goal is to eat more healthfully, you're not alone. Many people would like to improve their nutrition, especially considering the serious health risks of eating a poor diet. However, nutrition information can be extremely confusing. Almost every day, new dietary trends are splashed across the news, purporting to be the next big thing in health and fitness. It can be hard to know which to believe and who to trust. Luckily, it doesn't have to be that complicated. By cutting through the hype and following basic guidelines for good nutrition, you can improve your diet and your health.
Step 1
Eat more fruits and vegetables. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, most Americans do not eat enough fruits and veggies. Because they're packed with vitamins, fiber and antioxidants, the American Cancer Society recommends consuming at least five servings of these foods per day for optimal health.
Step 2
Include whole grains in your diet. Whole grains, like whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal and whole-grain pasta, provide more fiber and nutrients than refined grains such as white bread and white rice. For best nutrition, switch as many of your usual grain foods from the refined variety to the healthier, heartier, whole-grain type.
Step 3
Choose leaner sources of protein, including plant-based proteins at times, advises the Harvard School of Public Health. Many cuts of meat are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can cause health problems. For best nutrition, choose high-protein foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol and provide other nutrients as well. Good options include fish, poultry, beans, legumes, egg whites, tofu and other soy protein products.
Step 4
Avoid high-fat, high sugar treats. This simple rule is a basic of good nutrition, because most treats or "junk" foods are high in calories, saturated fat, sugar or all three, while containing minimal -- if any -- nutrition. Cut down on or eliminate candy, cookies, cake, doughnuts, chips, fast food, soda and fried foods from your diet to improve your nutrition tremendously.
Step 5
Get active. Regular exercise is a necessary sidekick to good nutrition; a healthy diet helps fuel your muscles for activity, and activity burns calories and keeps your metabolism running to balance out your food intake -- in addition to providing numerous health benefits. Incorporate regular physical activity into your schedule as you follow the guidelines above, and you'll be enjoying a more nutritious and healthy lifestyle.
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