As well as leading to osteoporosis, not getting enough calcium in your diet can also contribute to anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. Whatever your age or gender, it's vital to include calcium-rich foods in your diet, limit those that deplete calcium, and get enough magnesium and vitamins D and K to help calcium do its job.

Carbohydrates are one of your body's main sources of energy. But most should come from complex, unrefined carbs vegetables, whole grains, fruit rather than sugars and refined carbs. Cutting back on white bread, pastries, starches, and sugar can prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar, fluctuations in mood and energy, and a build-up of fat, especially around your waistline.

Switching to a healthy diet doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition. You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy, and you don't have to change everything all at once—that usually only leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. A better approach is to make a few small changes at a time.

Keeping your goals modest can help you achieve more in the long term without feeling deprived or overwhelmed by a major diet overhaul. Think of planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps—like adding a salad to your diet once a day.

As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices. BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more.

Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours. To set yourself up for success, try to keep things simple. Eating a healthier diet doesn't have to be complicated.

Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories, for example, think of your diet in terms of color, variety, and freshness. Focus on avoiding packaged and processed foods and opting for more fresh ingredients whenever possible.

Prepare more of your own meals. Cooking more meals at home can help you take charge of what you're eating and better monitor exactly what goes into your food. You'll eat fewer calories and avoid the chemical additives, added sugar, and unhealthy fats of packaged and takeout foods that can leave you feeling tired, bloated, and irritable, and exacerbate symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety.

Make the right changes. When cutting back on unhealthy foods in your diet, it's important to replace them with healthy alternatives.

Replacing dangerous trans fats with healthy fats such as switching fried chicken for grilled salmon will make a positive difference to your health. Switching animal fats for refined carbohydrates, though such as switching your breakfast bacon for a donut , won't lower your risk for heart disease or improve your mood.

Read the labels. It's important to be aware of what's in your food as manufacturers often hide large amounts of sugar or unhealthy fats in packaged food, even food claiming to be healthy. Focus on how you feel after eating. This will help foster healthy new habits and tastes.

The healthier the food you eat, the better you'll feel after a meal. The more junk food you eat, the more likely you are to feel uncomfortable, nauseous, or drained of energy.

Drink plenty of water. Water helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins, yet many of us go through life dehydrated—causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches.

It's common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also help you make healthier food choices. What is moderation? In essence, it means eating only as much food as your body needs.

You should feel satisfied at the end of a meal, but not stuffed. For many of us, moderation means eating less than we do now. But it doesn't mean eliminating the foods you love. Eating bacon for breakfast once a week, for example, could be considered moderation if you follow it with a healthy lunch and dinner—but not if you follow it with a box of donuts and a sausage pizza.

Start by reducing portion sizes of unhealthy foods and not eating them as often. As you reduce your intake of unhealthy foods, you may find yourself craving them less or thinking of them as only occasional indulgences.

Think smaller portions. Serving sizes have ballooned recently. When dining out, choose a starter instead of an entree, split a dish with a friend, and don't order supersized anything.

At home, visual cues can help with portion sizes. Your serving of meat, fish, or chicken should be the size of a deck of cards and half a cup of mashed potato, rice, or pasta is about the size of a traditional light bulb.

By serving your meals on smaller plates or in bowls, you can trick your brain into thinking it's a larger portion. If you don't feel satisfied at the end of a meal, add more leafy greens or round off the meal with fruit. Take your time.

It's important to slow down and think about food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down in between meetings or on the way to pick up the kids. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full.

Eat with others whenever possible. Eating alone, especially in front of the TV or computer, often leads to mindless overeating. Limit snack foods in the home. Be careful about the foods you keep at hand. It's more challenging to eat in moderation if you have unhealthy snacks and treats at the ready.

Instead, surround yourself with healthy choices and when you're ready to reward yourself with a special treat, go out and get it then. Control emotional eating. We don't always eat just to satisfy hunger. Many of us also turn to food to relieve stress or cope with unpleasant emotions such as sadness, loneliness, or boredom.

But by learning healthier ways to manage stress and emotions, you can regain control over the food you eat and your feelings. Eat breakfast, and eat smaller meals throughout the day. A healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, while eating small, healthy meals keeps your energy up all day.

Avoid eating late at night. Try to eat dinner earlier and fast for hours until breakfast the next morning. Studies suggest that eating only when you're most active and giving your digestive system a long break each day may help to regulate weight.

Fruit and vegetables are low in calories and nutrient dense, which means they are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Focus on eating the recommended daily amount of at least five servings of fruit and vegetables and it will naturally fill you up and help you cut back on unhealthy foods.

A serving is half a cup of raw fruit or veg or a small apple or banana, for example. Most of us need to double the amount we currently eat.

While plain salads and steamed veggies can quickly become bland, there are plenty of ways to add taste to your vegetable dishes. Add color. Not only do brighter, deeper colored vegetables contain higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, but they can vary the flavor and make meals more visually appealing.

Add color using fresh or sundried tomatoes, glazed carrots or beets, roasted red cabbage wedges, yellow squash, or sweet, colorful peppers.

Liven up salad greens. Branch out beyond lettuce. Kale, arugula, spinach, mustard greens, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage are all packed with nutrients. To add flavor to your salad greens, try drizzling with olive oil, adding a spicy dressing, or sprinkling with almond slices, chickpeas, a little bacon, parmesan, or goat cheese.

Satisfy your sweet tooth. Naturally sweet vegetables—such as carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, yams, onions, bell peppers, and squash—add sweetness to your meals and reduce your cravings for added sugar.

Add them to soups, stews, or pasta sauces for a satisfying sweet kick. Cook green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and asparagus in new ways.

Instead of boiling or steaming these healthy sides, try grilling, roasting, or pan frying them with chili flakes, garlic, shallots, mushrooms, or onion. Or marinate in tangy lemon or lime before cooking.

Nutrition tips to boost energy levels and increase resistance to illness. Tips to help you and your family eat delicious, healthy food on a tight budget. How focusing on the experience of eating can improve your diet.

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Make mealtimes more pleasant and less stressful for everyone by learning how to handle a picky eater. Most kids will enjoy deciding what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some might even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal.

At the store, teach kids to check out food labels to begin understanding what to look for. In the kitchen , select age-appropriate tasks so kids can play a part without getting injured or feeling overwhelmed.

School lunches can be another healthy eating lesson for kids. If you can get kids thinking about what they eat for lunch, you might be able to help them make positive changes. Brainstorm about what kinds of foods they'd like for lunch or go to the grocery store to shop together for healthy, packable foods.

There's another important reason why kids should be involved: It can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat. That's not to say they'll suddenly want a salad instead of french fries, but the mealtime habits you help create now can lead to a lifetime of healthier choices.

KidsHealth Parents Healthy Eating. en español: Una alimentación saludable. Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD. Listen Play Stop Volume mp3 Settings Close Player. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Whether you have a toddler or a teen, here are five of the best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits: Have regular family meals.

Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks. Be a role model by eating healthy yourself. Avoid battles over food. Involve kids in the process. Family Meals Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Kids who take part in regular family meals are also: more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and grains less likely to snack on unhealthy foods less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol Also, family meals are a chance for parents to introduce kids to new foods and to be role models for healthy eating.

You might also try these tips: Let kids invite a friend to dinner. Involve your child in meal planning and preparation. Keep mealtime calm and friendly — no lectures or arguing.

Stock Up on Healthy Foods Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what's available at home. Follow these basic guidelines: Work fruits and vegetables into the daily routine , aiming for the goal of at least five servings a day. Be sure you serve fruit or vegetables at every meal.

Make it easy for kids to choose healthy snacks by keeping fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat. Other good snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain crackers and cheese.

Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein , such as fish, eggs, beans, and nuts. Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so kids get more fiber. Limit fat intake by avoiding fried foods and choosing healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming.

Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Limit fast food and low-nutrient snacks , such as chips and candy. But don't completely ban favorite snacks from your home. Instead, make them "once-in-a-while" foods, so kids don't feel deprived.

Limit sugary drinks , such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. Serve water and low-fat milk instead.