15 Tips For Healthier Meals In 2015....1) Start your day with breakfast 2) Consume three to six meals each day 3) Eat or drink at least five servings of YOUR favourite fruits and vegetables every day 4) Eat at least quarter-cup of peas and, or beans daily and increase as tolerated 5) Consume at least one small handful of nuts (raw, roasted/ baked) every day & MORE....

Marsha N. Woolery, Contributor Published: Wednesday | January 14, 2015 
Another year has begun, plans and decisions have been made - 'I will go to church', 'I will be a better friend, parent, spouse', 'I will eat healthier, exercise, take my medication as prescribed' - and the list goes on and on and on.

Breakfast

When planning to make changes, it is important to be aware of the real reason the change is desired. Ask yourself, 'Will this change benefit me?' Rate the benefit on a scale of one to 10 - 'What is the level of importance?'

The more important the change is to YOU, the more likely YOU are to succeed at making this desired change.

Many of us in 2015 have decided to prepare and consume healthier meals and snacks, but I believe it is important to assess our eating habits to be aware of the real changes that need to be made. Most times than not, it is just a few things that we need to adjust in order to make healthier food choices.

Here are some practical tips towards healthier eating in 2015:

Nuts

1 Start your day with breakfast. Break your fast with healthy fooditems, a mixture of at least one food from two food groups. For example, milk (cow's or soy) and bread/ crackers/oats, fruit and nuts. Carbohydrates from the bread and fruit provide energy to jump-start the day and the milk and nuts provide protein to prevent the hunger that occurs mid-morning or a few hours after waking up.

2 Consume three to six meals each day. The number and size of meals consumed depend on your preference, physical activity, illness, medications and recommendations from a trained and registered medical professional. Eating more often (four to six times per day) also means consuming less or breaking up 'regular-sized' meals into smaller amounts.

Fruits

3 Eat or drink at least five servings of YOUR favourite fruits and vegetables every day. One serving is half-cup fruit or half-cup cooked vegetables or half-cup unsweetened juice. Use vegetable and fruits to add colour to your meals or snacks. The more colours consumed during the day means a healthier body.

4 Eat at least quarter-cup of peas and, or beans daily and increase as tolerated. String beans do NOT count as peas and beans because of immature or 'young' beans inside of pod. String bean is considered a vegetable. more