Along with reading the labels on the food you buy to avoid the dietary culprits listed above, here are more simple tips to get you started:

1. Cut out excess “empty” calories like those from soda, candy, cookies, sweetened drinks and chips first.
2. Eat more vegetables, fruits and other whole, fresh foods.
3. Eat less processed foods and oils, sugar and caffeine.
4. Eat whole fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.
5. Bake, grill, steam or broil food instead of frying it (fewer calories and better for health and energy).
6. Drink water as your primary beverage.
7. When choosing grains, pick items that have whole grains listed as the first ingredient on the label.
8. Get healthy fats by eating foods such as low-mercury fish, nuts, avocados, olives and olive oil.
9. Sit down to a regular, family mealtime everyday (or as often as possible), including foods you’ve cooked at home.
10. Limit take-out food, fast food and pre-packaged convenience foods.