1. Always Eat Breakfast: You’ve heard it before, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast is your body’s opportunity load up on nutrition before conquering mental and physical challenges in the day to come. Skipping breakfast can lead to intense hunger strikes, which will in turn lead to unhealthy eating habits including unhealthy snacking or binging. Many people skip breakfast in the hope of losing weight, but in fact, studies show that eating breakfast is key to maintaining a healthy body weight.

2. Cut Out Sodas: This is possibly the easiest way to drop a few extra pounds; some experts say you could lose up to 15 pounds a year just by opting out of your daily soda. Think of it like this: a 20 oz. soft drink contains 250 calories and up to 17 teaspoons of sugar! An easy way to conquer your soda habit is to switch to sparkling water; you’ll get the same refreshing effervescence of a regular soda with no extra sugar or calories.

3. Grilling vs. Frying: Americans have a love/hate relationship with fried foods...everything seems to taste better fried, but it’s literally “breaking our hearts.” The risk of heart disease increases when we eat foods high in saturated fats and trans fats, which are often found in the butters and oils used to fry our foods. Switching to grilling reduces these dangerous fats and can also taste great!

4. Smart snacking: If dinner is hours away but your stomach is telling you “Feed Me Now!,” snacking can help you stave off hunger and avoid binging between meals. What you snack on is the question. Snacks high in protein or fiber can help you maintain energy until your next meal. Some of the healthiest snacks include almonds, fruits and vegetables, and whole grain pretzels.

5. Smaller Portion Sizes: The average American’s idea of a portion of meat is wildly different from the United State Department of Agriculture’s portion size. In our world of double cheeseburgers and 24 oz. steaks, consider this: The USDA says a healthy serving of meat is 2 - 3 ounces, about the size of a deck of cards. For more portion size information, visit the USDA’s website at http://www.mypyramid.gov/.

6. Skip Family Style: Family style meals are a great excuse to over indulge...how can you say no to a second or third helping when it’s staring you in the face?! Serve your meals on plates with individual servings to cut back on the temptation to take more than you really need.

7. Balance Your Meals: To maximize your nutrition intake, make an effort to include the recommended portions from each block of the USDA’s food pyramid. Following the daily recommended portions of fruits, veggies, dairy, grains and meats can ensure a strong immune system and high energy levels.

8. Box Half: To avoid overeating at restaurants, where portion sizes range from huge to massive, ask your server to box half of your entree before it arrives at the table to avoid the temptation to over indulge. You’ll spare yourself the stomach ache and stretch your dollars even further with the leftover food!

9. Drink Smart: Obviously, alcohol isn’t great for our bodies, but it is okay to indulge in the occasional glass of wine, beer or liquor - just in moderation. It is widely accepted that one five ounce glass of red wine a day can boost your cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of heart attacks and some cancers. Cheers!

10. Share a Meal: This is one healthy eating tip that is easy and fun...studies show that people who sit down to meals with friends or family regularly, verses eating alone in front of the television or computer, tend to eat less and have healthier eating habits.