Ding-da ding-ding-ding! There is the happy, cheerful sound of the ice cream man’s truck, rolling down the street in front of you house. You can almost taste the artificially-colored and sugary popsicle you’ve been dying to have. But deep within yourself, you know that this is not a smart choice and that you’ll probably regret it later. What do you do? How do you stay away from something that sounds so irresistible? Well that’s what we’re going to figure out. Staying healthy and eating right can be super challenging. That bag of chips or slice of cake may look absolutely delicious, and maybe you eat it, that’s okay. But we can’t say yes to everything every time. There is a definite balance. And we can help you find that balance.

Studies show that having five or six small meals a day is actually better for you than three big meals a day. So maybe instead of having eggs and bacon with a side of toast for breakfast, you just substitute a bowl of oatmeal with fruit. Keeping it small and healthy is key. Then when hunger greets us around mid-morning we can have another small meal. One of the easiest and fastest ways to eat healthier is controlling portion sizes. Usually the average size of a meal is a lot bigger than what we actually need. Of course if you are hungry, this is going to be different for you. A good rule of thumb is when you start feeling full, stop and wait. Given a few minutes to digest, you might realize you are full now. Eating healthy is all about knowing our bodies.

Track what foods make you feel good and what portion sizes fill you up. Balance your meals throughout the day by including different types of nutrients. Make sure you get a serving of vegetables and fruit every day. Substituting foods for others can also be healthier. Maybe instead of having that slice of chocolate cake we talked about earlier, have a couple pieces of dark chocolate. You are satisfying your sweet tooth without overloading on the sugar and fat. It is all about finding your flow and balance.

Remember, the most important thing when eating is making sure you feel good. Eating healthier makes your body look and feel so much better. So maybe you don’t get a popsicle from the ice cream man and opt for a bowl of strawberries instead. But still make sure to treat yourself once in a while! Happy eating!