A balanced and nutritious diet is one of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle, but eating right all the time is easier said than done. Still, as long you as you incorporate healthy eating into your day to day routine, it should eventually become a natural part of your life. While it would take an entire book to cover all of the aspects of healthy eating, there are several simple strategies that you can employ to make eating a balanced diet a normal extension of your daily routine. Assuming there are no health issues that would require you to stick to certain dietary guidelines, the following tips are commonly recommended by health professionals to improve daily nutrition:

• Controlling your portions – Eating healthy means eating the right amount of food for your size. In most cases, a man who is 6’2” will naturally need to consume more than a woman who is 5’1”, so with that in mind, try to control your portion size and eat an adequate amount for your size and activity level. A good indicator is to use one of the many online calculators available to figure out how many calories you should eat a day according to your age, height, and activity level, and stick as closely as possible to that many calories per day.

• Dial back the pace – By slowing down the speed at which you eat, you give your body more time to recognize that it is full. This will help prevent you from overeating.

• Learn all about nutrition – Take the time to learn about carbohydrates, lipids (fats), and proteins; learn what your body needs; and learn what is okay to eat. For example, olive oil and canola oil are both high in fats, but the type of fats that they contain are healthy for you and can be broken down easily by the body. The more you know about the nutrients you are putting in, the more you will be able to make healthy decisions about your diet.

• Get varied – Try to eat a large variety of foods. Not only is eating foods from all of the major food groups (proteins, complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, etc.) essential for proper nutrition, but eating from a range of foods can help you keep eating healthy by ensuring that you’ll never be bored with your next meal.

If you keep all of these tips in mind, you’ll soon be eating healthier right from your home at our Alachua, Florida apartments. To learn about the many opportunities for healthy activities at our apartment community or our available apartments, contact us at One 51 Place Apartment Homes today.