Struggling to improve your diet? Let’s face it, most of us are. In a world where the tastiest treats are just a couple of clicks away, it can be difficult to make the changes necessary to see positive results in energy levels, concentration, skin health, and of course, weight management. Studies have shown that even if you workout every day, a good diet is the major key to leading a healthy lifestyle. Thankfully, the fundamentals of eating well aren’t hard. Though some changes may take a little mindfulness and additional effort, they are effective and accessible to everyone. Wondering how to start modifying your intake? Curious as to how you should prioritize your eating goals? Here are 8 solid ways you can greatly improve your daily diet.

1. Increase Your Water Intake

Did you know that more than half of the human body is made up of water? As a result, monitoring your water intake is one of the most important things you can do to take charge of your diet and your health. A dehydrated body will not function as well, and dehydration can also lead to cravings, overeating, lack of energy, poor sleep, and difficulty focusing. On top of that, not drinking enough water will often cause problems with skin, hair, nails, and just about everything else you can think of. Before crossing other items off your diet checklist, make sure you make drinking at least a litre of water per day a top priority.

2. Eat the Rainbow

When you eat a meal, the experience is not solely dictated by what you’re feeling and tasting in your mouth. A large portion of taste comes from smelling and visually perceiving your food. That’s why the body is naturally less appetized when it sees a plate of bland or mono-chrome food. This natural instinct serves us well- the most nutrient dense food is often the most richly pigmented. This helps to put the health food motto “eat the rainbow” into perspective. Chances are, if most of the colours are represented on your plate, most important nutrients will be too.

3. Be Aware of the ‘Big Three’

There are some ingredients that are consistently talked about in the health world for a reason. Due to their negative impact, sugar, fat, and sodium are all things you should watch out for when trying to improve your daily diet. While the body does need small amounts of each of them, the source and percentage is something you should always consider thoroughly. For example, sugars are naturally occurring in most fruits, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t sprinkle berries in your oatmeal or have an apple in the afternoon! Instead, be on the lookout for large amounts of refined sugar found in processed cereals as well as other packaged products. These will cause your blood sugar to spike and will be converted into fat much more readily.

4. Supplement Your Protein

For many people, whether they currently maintain a vegetarian or vegan diet or simply don’t eat a lot of meat, eating an adequate amount of protein can be a struggle. While it’s true that protein occurs naturally in a variety of nuts, seeds, meats, and greens, even someone who eats meat can have trouble eating enough. Especially if you’re doing vigorous exercise and weight lifting, it’s a good idea to find an alternative source of the diet essential and supplements can be a great way to ensure you are getting, not only the protein, but all of the vitamins and minerals you may be missing from your daily requirements. A combination protein powder is a good idea if you’re looking to beef up your protein intake while also reaping other nutritional benefits.

 5. Stay Mindful

If you’re familiar with the concept of mindfulness, then you’ll already understand the guiding principles behind it. For the uninitiated, it’s a technique in which you try to stay alert and present to the best of your ability. This includes listening to bodily cues, and bringing awareness to passing thoughts, physical discomfort, or tension held within the body. These same techniques can be applied to eating. Utilizing a health or fitness app can help keep track of thoughts and progress. One of the most effective ways to limit your intake, practicing mindful eating can give you a more accurate sense of when you’re actually hungry, aid digestion, and help prevent bored or emotional eating.

 6. Stock Up on Healthy Fats

While most fat-heavy foods are generally good to avoid, you shouldn’t stay away from all fats! There are some healthy fats that actually help to improve bodily function and proper digestion. Additionally, they will fill you up and help you feel fuller longer. If you’d like to avoid unhealthy snacking, try loading up on things like avocados, salmon, olives, and nuts- which are all high in healthy fats. A good rule of thumb is, avoid saturated fats and include unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats will help cholesterol levels, while saturated fats will increase them dramatically.

7. Opt for Whole Foods

Most of the foods that dieticians and nutritionists discourage against consuming in high quantities fall into the “processed food” category. Simply put, the more processed foods your diet contains, the less healthy you will be. The answer for an improved diet is simple: instead of reaching for heavily processed meals, try incorporating a larger quantity of whole foods. Often, these will have significantly more fibre, vitamins, and nutrients. Plus, they take longer to be processed and digested by the body, giving you energy for longer.

8. Plan Your Treats

Though adhering to a healthy diet is a sure way to get into better shape and generally feel stronger and more alert, no diet is realistic or enjoyable without the occasional treat! To improve your daily diet, try planning and portioning your cheat meals in advance. This will accomplish two things: it will give you something to look forward to, and ensure that you don’t eat too much of a good thing. If a diet is too strict it may be setting you up for failure, so make sure you’re eating some of the things you love too.

Wanting to modify your diet shouldn’t mean making quick, unrealistic or unsustainable changes. Instead, try working incrementally towards a healthier lifestyle. The 8 tips above are a great way to start improving your daily diet to look and feel like the best version of yourself. From avoiding processed foods to including whole foods, these are simple steps you can take to start affecting a positive change in your life. Your body and your mind will thank you!

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.