Ask the Readers: What Are Your Tips for Healthy Eating?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Jenny D, Jennifer, and Birdiebee for winning this week's contest!

Eating healthy doesn't have to be difficult... if you know where to start. It can be a little intimidating to switch to more healthful eating habits if you're someone who is used to the convenience of fast food or microwave dinners, or you love the sinful decadence of fat-filled (or sugar-drenched) goodies.

What are your tips for healthy eating? What are your favorite healthy dishes — and what do you indulge in when you want to treat yourself?

Tell us about your tips for healthy eating and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

  • Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For Extra Entries:

  • You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

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If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest ends Monday, March 21st at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after March 21st on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
     
  • You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
     
  • This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
     
  • You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck! 

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Tina in NJ

Write it down. Everything. Even if nobody (even you!) ever reads your food journal,it helps. This is a great way to practice mindful eating and hold yourself accountable for what you put in your body.

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Guest

Do a meal prep day. That way, you've already planned the meals for the week. Then you stick to that list at the grocery store and it's healthy on a budget! It also makes you less likely to pick up food on the way home when you know you already have some waiting

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freebird

My best eating tip is "less is more". Calorie restriction isn't always easy but it works!

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Mami2jcn

Choose vegetables as your side item instead of french fries. Eat your burger without the bun.

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Julie Wood

My tips for Healthy eating are to eat whole grains, fruits and veges and lean meats. And include fish at least twice a week and drink plenty of water!

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Elena

My tip is to eat lots of organic veggies and fruits

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Kay

I've read that microwaving veggies actually keeps more of the nutrients versus other methods of cooking.

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Ernest S.

I try to cut out as much processed sugar as possible from my diet. It's nearly impossible to achieve since so much of what we eat has it, but I have found that my health has improved dramatically from this change!

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Gina

Do grocery shopping at least once a week to keep fresh food in the house. Do bulk cooking or food prep on weekends so you have meals ready to eat quickly with minimal effort to avoid the need or urge to eat out. Use smaller plates to fool your brain into seeing a full plate and filling you up more quickly to avoid overeating. Put healthy food where it can be easily seen and grabbed to inspire you to eat more of it. Use moderation. You can eat any food as long as you don't overeat so you can still enjoy treats like ice cream. Find creative ways to sneak more veggies into your food - make fresh pesto from asparagus.

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Susan

I order my produce and eggs weekly from a local mostly organic CSA so I can plan snacks and sides the healthy way. It also keeps me from spending too much time in the grocery store.

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Julie Lundstrom

I try to have healthy foods in the house. I try to have veggies and fruit daily.

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Kelli

I try to have a salad every night before dinner, one that's loaded with veggies. I'm also TRYING to eat more fruit when I want something sweet instead of cookies, candy, etc. That one's a little harder for me, but I'm working on it.

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Renee

Eat lots of veggies and cook at home whenever possible.

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Natalie

Keep fruits and veggies visible in the kitchen so that you are more likely to grab for a piece of fruit vs junk food! Also, try and pre-cut fruits so that they are convenient to grab and go for a snack.

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Emily S.

If you feel hungry, reach for a bowl of veggies. If that bowl does not seem appealing, chances are you aren't really hungry!

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Susan P.

I use fresh locally grown vegetables and fruits as much as possible and cook from scratch. Smaller portions help me eat less and drinking lots of water helps me stay healthy.

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Guest

Have healthy snacks premade so unhealthy snacks aren't easy to grab.

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Liz

Meal plan!

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Terri

I recently lost weight by using an app (MyFitnessPal) to record everything I ate and keep to a daily calorie maximum. I also used a food scale to stay on top of portion sizes. Calorie counting isn't always fun, but it really makes you think twice before you eat something.

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Laura J

My tip for healthy eating is to make sure to eat a good healthy breakfast every morning. I tend to skip it alot, and I know its not healthy!

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Michelle D.

I plan what I am going to eat for breakfast/lunch/dinner the night before so I don't eat junk food. I love eating sauteed veggies and a protein with brown rice. When I want to indulge I eat pizza!

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AN G

I do my cutting prep for veggies and fruits on Sundays. Also shop at Aldi's which has great prices for healthy options. I also don't shop on the outside aisles of the grocery store where they usually display the junk. Keep a food journal too.

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Ackgal

I am learning to eat healthier by using smaller plates for all meals, and by cutting my meats and fish to half the portion size I used to eat, and bulking up on my fruits and vegetables.

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Chris

Due to a health issue, I switched to all fat-free vegan foods a few months ago. I'm not sure I would have done it unless facing a health crisis, but it has been wonderful. I thought I would hate it and saw it as a temporary measure, but I'm enjoying it so much that this is now my permanent way of eating. My doctor says he wishes all his patients could be like me (lost much weight, greatly improved numbers). First read about it in the book Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. Then read The China Study and learned about the benefits with regard to diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, etc. First book by guy at the Cleveland Clinic (best cardio place in U.S.) and second book by now-retired famous researcher via Cornell and other top universities. It's embarrassing that I used to side-eye vegan diets as too extreme. Now I can only apologize for my ignorance.

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Louly

I use blogs and recipe sites to keep healthy recipes interesting. As long as I am trying something new I find that I can stick to it.

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Rebecca Ross

Drink lots of water, eat mostly veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and just little lean meat.

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Dan in Tennessee

Few people realize that tuna is a super food. I eat tuna salad just about every day for lunch on whole wheat bread. I make the salad with 3 ingredients: 1 small can of tuna, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise with olive oil or canola oil, & 1 tablespoon of sweet relish. (That makes 2 sandwiches; i.e. 2 days).
For best results, pick yellowfin tuna in water. Tuna is a high protein, low fat, good cholesterol food. Very simple to make and a preferred substitute to a cheese burger or a burrito or fried chicken.

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Donna Sako

Avoid sugar, artificial sugars and flavors, and GMO products. Anything added to foods, even processed foods, are not natural. Our bodies retain these chemicals as fat because it assumes just because they can not recognize what it is, you might need it someday. Talk about hoarding! Then the hoarding of these drugs causes cancer and other diseases. We assume our bodies know what is god for us and will reject it. Our bodies assume WE know what is needed and hoard it. Then on occasion our bodies decide the drug is bad and instead of releasing it---it attacks our organ or our own body thinking that WE know they are trying to tell us to stop eating that stuff. There is such a lack of communication between us and our bodies it is remarkable we have lasted this long on earth.

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Joanna MC

Weekend meal prep! If I don't wash, cut up, prepare and cook on the weekend, I'll leave work too tired to cook and will end up eating out or purchasing convenience items. Meal prep takes time - I'll bring my tablet or laptop into the kitchen and treat myself to watching favorite movies or shows while I do the prep and cooking. :)

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Kelsey Hopper

I love breakfasts that incorporate veggies + protein. It keeps me full longer, and ensures that I started the day off right. Breakfast "fried" rice is one of my favorites - TONS of veggies (carrots, celery, bok choi, broccoli, yellow squash, edamame, etc), brown rice, eggs, and soysauce, cooked in olive oil. Crustless mini-quiches are also great, like broccoli-cheese, or spinach and mushroom. They're made in muffin tins, and you just pop two in the microwave for a minute, and take them with you!

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Monique

Eat food you truly enjoy and savor it. Try and plan your meals as much as possible. Make an effort to add in some variety. Homemade soups with lots of beans and vegetables are my go-to for a healthy, filling meal, but I treat myself with some good quality dark chocolate once in a while

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lostannfound

Plan ahead! If I bring a healthy snack to work (like some fruit or yogurt), then I am less likely to hit up the vending machine when I start feeling hungry.

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Gina

I think having a plan ahead of time is helpful. Buying healthy foods and prepping them so you are ready each day.

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Sarah S.

I always have cut up fruits and veggies in the fridge

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Kiki

Eat breakfast, plan ahead for when you are traveling and tend to indulge in whatever is available (usually unhealthful foods), eat a variety of foods and and if you do indulge don't ove do it. Everything has a place in your diet in moderation which avoids the sense you're depriving yourself. Think of food as fuel for your body.

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Ashley

We try to fill up mostly on fruits and veggies and use that as half the plate.

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Jenny D

It's critical to stock healthy snack options. I have whole wheat crackers and chunk cheese, popcorn kernels, cashews, and pistachios on hand. I also buy fruits that I love that are in season to keep costs low. I also make most of my foods from scratch, including bread, cream soups (not Campbell's), pizza, pasta sauces, and meals in general. It really helps to make extra and freeze it for a busy day.

My favorite healthy dishes are soups, salads, salmon, whole roasted chicken, quinoa, brown rice.

When I want to indulge myself I will have a dessert. I make a chocolate cake recipe from Hershey's that is still yummy without frosting. I will occasionally bake donuts when I have guests.

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Jenny D

Thank you for choosing me as one of this weeks winners! What a great surprise to open up the email from your staff member. :)

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Donna D

Pack your lunch for work everyday that way you control what you are eating.

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Miss kim

I try not to buy junk food. If I don't have it in the house then that means I can't eat it!

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Michael

I keep lots of healthy snacks in the house, like fruits, veggies, nuts and cheese to snack on.

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Amy

I keep fruits and vegetables on the counter or highly visible in the fridge. Our meals are almost all made at home. We are cutting back on meat, using it primarily as an extra. I use coconut oil and/or real butter for cooking, in small amounts and use spices instead of salt.

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Kat

I always start my lunch and dinner with either a vegetable soup or big salad.

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Happy Love

Keep bags of frozen veggies like chopped spinach and peas/carrots on hand to add to sauces and meals for a cheap and easy boost in nutrition.

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BRB

Eating at home!

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Pam

I stock up on fruits and veggies

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Ana lee

I cut and prep all my fruits and veggies over the weekend so that I can quickly make a healthy dinner or lunch during the weekday.

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SKB

Cook your own meals and limit frozen dinners and prepared foods. Drink water.

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Tabathia B

I prefer preparing different types of baked chicken dishes and lots of fish and we often have a burger or all beef hot dog for the kids. Splurging meals usually involve eating out, or having a dessert

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Lynda

i follow the 80/20 rule. eat healthy (fruits, veggies, and whole grains) 80% of the time and fun foods (junk food, comfort food) the rest of the time!

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Matt

Eat seasonally!

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Thomas Murphy

eat lots of fruits.