Switching to a healthier diet can add years to life and make you happier. Good nutrition promotes mental and physical well-being, boosts your immune system, and keeps you fit. By eating healthy, you’ll have more energy and feel better overall. Simple things, such as adding a tablespoon of flaxseed to your favorite salads, replacing sugar with stevia, and cutting back on salt, can improve your quality of life.

So, are you ready to change your eating habits? Here are three simple steps to a healthier diet:

Eliminate Processed Foods

Stock up on healthy foods and get rid of soda, deli meats, potato chips, refined oils, hot dogs, and ready-made meals. These products are loaded with preservatives, trans fats, and refined sugar, causing serious health problems in the long run. A well-balanced diet should include whole, natural foods, such as oats, fresh fruit and vegetables, grass-fed meat, fish, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, and seeds.

Cook Your Own Meals

Cooking at home is one of the best ways to make sure you eat healthy. This allows you to calculate your macros, track your daily calorie intake, and choose nutritious foods that support your goals. When you eat out, you can never know what goes into your food. Even the healthiest dishes can contain artificial flavors and chemicals as well as added sugar.

Make Smart Food Swaps

Contrary to the popular belief, it is possible to eat healthy without giving up your favorite foods. The key is to make smart food swaps, such as using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, dark chocolate instead of regular chocolate, sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, and nuts instead of croutons.

For example, if you love pancakes, replace white flour with flax meal, almond flour, or whey protein powder. You can also make pancakes using egg whites, bananas, oats, and cinnamon. The same goes for oils and fats. Replace margarine and refined oils with coconut oil, avocado oil, or real butter to cut calories and get more nutrients in your diet.