100 Healthy Tips | Cooking Light

Photo: Lee Harrelson

These 100 healthy tips will get you started to a wholesome year full of fitness, nutrition, and a more healthy lifestyle.

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Healthy Tips for the New Year

Photo: Jennifer Causey

With the new year comes new expectations and goals, often accompanied by the fear of falling off the resolutions wagon by month’s end. Make this year different. Put aside over-blown resolutions and commit to making small changes all year to make this year your lightest ever. The benefits: Lose weight, put a bounce in your step, get some calm in the kitchen, and become a healthier you without feeling deprived.

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Spice Things Up

Photo: Oxmoor House

Eating even one meal that contains capsaicin—the compound that gives hot sauce and chile peppers their heat—not only reduces levels of hunger-causing ghrelin, but also raises GLP-1, an appetite-suppressing hormone.

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Don't Ditch Breakfast

Photo: Johnny Autry

Caffeine from your coffee is not enough fuel to start your day. Make sure to include a breakfast that is full of protein-rich and high-fiber foods like eggs with whole-wheat toast.

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Team Up with Mother Nature

Find a trail near you and rediscover the great outdoors. A 4 to 5 mile hike is a great start for beginners. Visit Trails.com to find nearby hiking trails.

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Swap Sides

A recent study showed that if you eat with your nondominant hand you can reduce what you eat by 30% because it breaks up that automatic hand-to-mouth flow. If you have trouble slowing down, put your utensil in your other hand. It's inconvenient, it's awkward, and you cannot go fast.

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Feel Free to Graze

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Squeezing in 3 square meals a day may not suite your lifestyle. At the end of the day, it’s how many total calories you’ve taken in. If you like to “graze,” eat smaller meals and a few snacks throughout the day.

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Nix the Noodles

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Nix the noodles and try spaghetti squash. Squash noodles transform lasagna into a delightful dinner for less than 400 calories.

See More: How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

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Swap Out Sugary Cereals

Photo: Deborah Ory

Cut your current high-sugar cereal with a low sugar, high-fiber brand. Gradually reduce the amount of sugary cereal in your bowl until you are eating only the high-fiber brand. Check out our picks for The Best Healthy Cereals.

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Save Time by Prepping

Photo: © JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis

Mise en place is a French word meaning “putting in place.” Preparation is one of the biggest time savers when cooking a healthy meal. Lay out all ingredients, equipment, and utensils you need before you begin cooking.

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The Little Seed That Could

Photo: Lee Harrelson

Add chia seeds to your water bottle, morning OJ, afternoon iced tea, or sprinkle them on salads, yogurt, and cereal. One ounce delivers an impressive 10 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Research found they can help you eat less by naturally regulating blood sugar, which helps put the breaks on hunger.

Find more Filling Foods.

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Love the Lemon

Nothing cheers up food the way lemons do. Perk up snack time by sprinkling freshly-grated rind over hot popcorn.

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The Coffee-Power Nap Trick

Photo: John Autry

Drink a cup of coffee right before a 20-minute power nap. Studies show it takes about that amount of time for the caffeine to kick in, so you'll wake feeling ready to go.

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Work to Sustain Health

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

To be a winner in health, it doesn’t matter how quickly you lose weight. What matters is how long you can sustain your new healthy lifestyle.

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Instead of Ultralight, Reach for Local Craft

Savor and sip the superiority of one local, full-flavored high-gravity craft beer. It’ll quench and satisfy far greater than 2 ultralight pints.

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Replenish with Salad

Photo: John Autry

If you’re starving when you get home from work, prepare your salad, eat it, and then cook the rest of your meal. Try one of these simple, veggie-packed salad recipes.

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Use Less Pasta, More Veggies

Photo: Johnny Autry

Build you pasta meal not with pasta alone. The ideal dish should have ½ cup cooked pasta, 1 cup veggies, and 3 ounces of lean protein.

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Salt Shaker Switch

Fill your salt shaker with pepper and your pepper shaker with salt. Since salt shakers have more holes, the switcheroo will help to slash your sodium intake.

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Avoid Disaster Salads

Photo: Ellen Silverman

Be careful not to turn your salad into a high-calorie disaster. Pass on creamy dressings and opt for olive oil and vinegar, choose nuts or sunflower seeds for crunch instead of croutons, and limit portions of cheese.

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Quick and Good for You

Photo: Charles Masters

A speedier cook time doesn’t mean less wholesome. Instant and quick cooking oats—both rolled and steel cut—are as nutritious, tasty, and fully whole grain as their longer-cooking counterparts.

Find more Common Nutrition Myths.

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Keep Fit with Friends

Photo: David Martinez

Need exercise motivation? Find a buddy to work out with—family members, friends, or even the dog can help keep you accountable.

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Cut Condiments

Have a craving for French fries but don’t want to add too many calories to your meal? Cut the calories somewhere else. Try losing half of the hamburger bun, skipping the mayo, or passing on the cheese. Check out these homemade Better, Lighter Burgers.

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Follow the 2x2x2 plan

Photo: © Kate Kunz/Corbis

Eat twice as often, eat half as much, and chew twice as long.

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Stuff Sandwiches with Veggies

Photo: Oxmoor House

Add volume to your sandwich by piling on low-calorie veggies instead of more meat. You’ll feel like you are eating just as much but you’ll be consuming fewer calories.

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Divvy Snacks Up

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

You are more likely to consume more chips, nuts, or pretzels if you eat straight from the bag. Be a smart snacker by portioning out your serving size and putting the bag away immediately before you indulge. Try making your own spiced snacks, like these yummy almonds.

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Table Matters

Photo: Randy Mayor

Make your table monochromatic: If your plates and bowls match and are the same colors as your tablecloth or placemats, you’ll naturally eat about 5% less compared to a table set with contrasting colors.

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Spritz, Don't Pour

Photo: Randy Mayor

To save calories in the kitchen, put your olive oil in a spray bottle. If you spritz versus pour, you will use a little less when cooking.

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Go Nuts for Breakfast

Photo: Randy Mayor

Are you hungry after your morning bowl of cereal? Try adding some healthy fat to your meal for satiety. Top your cereal with 2 tablespoons of nuts or seeds.

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Make a Smarter Smoothie

Make a better smoothie. Use unsweetened beverages and whole fruit instead of juice, and pump up the nutrients with a handful of greens. Try this combination for an easy, 162-calorie smoothie for one: 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves + 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh honeydew + 1/3 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt.

See More: Low-Calorie Smoothies

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Instead of Mixed Nuts, Reach for Trail Mix

Two handfuls of nuts may be heart-healthy, but also calorie-heavy. Downsize the 2 handfuls (1 1/2 oz) of nuts by half, and add a handful of air-popped popcorn and whole-wheat cereal, such as Chex.

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Get the Most Out of Snacks

Photo: Randy Mayor

Just because it is a “100-calorie” pack doesn’t mean it is healthy. Make sure it offers fiber, protein, and possibly healthy fat. If not, skip it. Check out these 10 Snack Mix Recipes that kids and adults will both love.

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Live in the "Now"

Photo: Randy Mayor

When it comes to your health, stop worrying about what you did yesterday and start focusing on what you are doing now.

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Become a Social Butterfly

Instead of filling your mouth with food at parties, try filling it with conversation.

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Lighten Up Chicken Salad

Photo: Levi Brown

Love the creaminess of mayonnaise? For a healthier alternative, try using hummus or low-fat plain Greek yogurt while making your favorite tuna, egg, or chicken salad.

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Put Produce on Eye Level

To increase your fruit and veggie intake, don’t put them in a drawer in the refrigerator but rather on a shelf at eye level. The more you see them, the more likely you will be to grab for them.

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Swap Cheeses, Add Veggies for a Ligher Pizza

Photo: Romulo Yanes

To lower fat and calories in pizza by around half, swap mozzarella for part-skim ricotta. Make it an opportunity for vitamins and minerals by loading up on the veggies.

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Be the First to Order

When dining out, be the first one to order. You’ll be less likely to change your mind after hearing what others are having.

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Cut Beef Portions in Half

Photo: Randy Mayor

Next time you order a meaty meal, ask the server if the portion can be cut to 4 or 6 ounces. Normal servings in restaurants are 8 to 12 ounces, twice the amount needed at a sitting. A 4-ounce portion of beef is shown in this delicious recipe.

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Rev Up your Morning with Water

Photo: David Muir/Masterfile

Drink an 8-ounce glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning to rev up your metabolism. Your body is parched after 6 to 8 hours of sleep.

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Wear Your Workout Clothes to Bed

Photo: Jeff Von Hoene

Less effort in the AM means you’re more likely to rise for that early morning workout!

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100 Ways to Start Your Year Off Light

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Healthy Tips for the New Year

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Spice Things Up

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Don't Ditch Breakfast

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Team Up with Mother Nature

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Swap Sides

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Feel Free to Graze

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Nix the Noodles

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Swap Out Sugary Cereals

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Save Time by Prepping

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The Little Seed That Could

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Love the Lemon

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The Coffee-Power Nap Trick

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Work to Sustain Health

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Instead of Ultralight, Reach for Local Craft

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Replenish with Salad

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Use Less Pasta, More Veggies

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Salt Shaker Switch

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Avoid Disaster Salads

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Quick and Good for You

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Keep Fit with Friends

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Cut Condiments

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Follow the 2x2x2 plan

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Stuff Sandwiches with Veggies

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Divvy Snacks Up

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Table Matters

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Spritz, Don't Pour

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