Lots of people want to know what foods are healthy for them. In actuality, this can be something that’s hard to answer. Part of the problem is that the research studies don’t always agree with one another. Sometimes you’ll find a study that says one thing and, other times, you’ll find a study that disagrees with the first study. Trying to figure all of this out can become a nightmare.

A good example of this is the Atkins diet which has people saying it’s very healthy, and others saying it will give you a heart attack if you stay on it too long.

To add to the problem is that there are diet fads everywhere that make us think one food is good for you if eaten in high amounts. The fad of the day can change at any minute. Most of the times, these fads don’t pay attention to which foods are healthy and which foods aren’t.

Looking at your Diet

Before spending time on deciding the perfect diet, you need to take a look at your own diet and also take a look at your own health issues (if there are any). You need to pay attention to what you’d like to get from a particular diet.

If your weight training and looking to pack on 30 pounds of muscle you’re going to have different nutritional requirements then someone who’s looking to change their diet to lose weight.

You also need to take note of your own preferences in foods so you can choose from those when you pick out which foods are the best for you.

Basically, picking out the foods that are healthy for you really depends on what foods you really like to eat. If you pick out a bunch of foods that are healthy but they’re foods you hate, you won’t be able to stay on the diet. That’s why it’s a good idea to pick healthy foods from a list of things you actually think you’ll be able to eat.

A Look at Fruits and Vegetables

Of course, no healthy diet can go without a few vegetables and fruits. These are perhaps the healthiest foods you can eat. You should try to eat at least five different servings of vegetables or fruits each day. Not many people, however, actually do this. If you want a healthy diet, though, it’s a good idea to start with this

Remember that when you eat vegetables and fruits, you don’t have to eat just raw fruits or vegetables. When eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, use recipes to incorporate the fruits or vegetables. Make a smoothie with fresh fruits and vegetables in them. Put fruit in a salad. There are lots of ways to do this without being boring.

Think of the Long Term Benefits

The key to success in healthy eating is variety. While it helps to know what foods are good for you, make sure you don’t eat the same things every day. Mix it up a little bit so that healthy eating doesn’t become something you dread.

Besides vegetables and fruits, there are other things you can include as part of a healthy diet. Don’t forget whole grains which comes in a wide variety of forms. Think about meats that are low in fat, such as turkey and chicken. Fish is excellent for you as well. All of these things are good for you and, if you find recipes you like, you’ll have no trouble eating healthy.