Having fruits and vegetables is just a small part of proper nutrition. Your body requires you to be educated in this arena. You have to understand what nutrients your body requires and where; in the vast panoply of available food choices, you can get them. It’s time to take stock of what you know about nutrition. It’s really not that hard! Just follow these handy tips!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Running short on time or not having an appetite are common reasons that people skip breakfast. This is a myth, however, as metabolism and overall health is adversely affected by skipping breakfast.

Start slow and small when trying to change your diet. Changing eating habits is difficult. Sometimes gradual changes in diet increase the likelihood that you won’t miss certain foods. This will increase the chance that you will stick with your healthier eating habits. This is why you have to make changes very slowly in order for them to last permanently. Instead of sodas and salty snacks, opt for teas and fresh fruit. After you grow accustomed to these diet changes, build on them with a few more small changes. After a while, you will be eating a much healthier diet.

Count to five for good nutrition. You should eat five servings of veggies and/or fruits every day. It’s less intimidating when you realize that a serving actually isn’t that much. For example, a half-cup of most fruits is considered a serving.

Seasonal produce allows you to add highly nutritious food to your diet at reasonable prices. Fresh vegetables are fruits are full of the essential vitamins and minerals your body requires. By buying seasonal produce you pay less while reaping the benefits of fresh food.

Salty foods should only be eaten in moderation. People who have high sodium diets are susceptible to higher blood pressure, known to invariably lead to strokes, heart disease and even kidney failure. Many people that eat a lot of sodium lose more calcium when they urinate, which can lead to poor bone health.

Be sure to eat a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables that are bright in color give us lots of health benefits without having lots of calories. Each meal you eat should have about one fruit and veggie. Eat the skins; too! Edible fruit and vegetable skins have lots of great nutrients, like fiber and antioxidants.

Good nutrition is important for staying physically and mentally healthy. When your body lacks certain vitamins, this can make you feel lethargic or depressed. By maintaining a good diet and watching what you eat, you can avoid a multitude of physical and mental health problems.

Consider enlisting the help of a friend whenever you decide to make a major life change, like starting a new diet. You can find someone to help with your support system by considering the people that are making similar changes as you. You could also consider finding a person that has already made the changes you’re facing to become your mentor. What’s important is just talking to someone.

As you can see, proper nutrition is more than just eating a piece of fruit. In order to follow a healthy diet, it takes drive and research. Using the tips provided in this article, create a plan you can live with.