Learning the 3 basic elements about healthy food will help you make better food choices for your family.

Eating healthy foods is the best and most obvious way to improve your overall health. Of course, many times it’s more easily said than done. For many people who have developed lifelong bad eating habits, knowing what is healthy and how to prepare it can be complicated. The good news is that eating healthy doesn’t mean turning vegan and it doesn't even have to be complicated.

There are few basic elements that all healthy foods have in common. Learning to identify and select foods based on their health factor can help you make healthier food choices for you and your family. There are three basic elements to all health foods. They aren’t processed, they contain little to no chemical additives like colorants, oils and preservatives, and they are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Many foods that are oily and full of saturated fats are also on the not-healthy list.

When going shopping, be sure to select options that are closer to the natural product. If you are buying breakfast cereal for example, try to choose cereals with the least amount of colorants and sugar. Granola is a great example of a healthy, heart-friendly cereal.

Instead of buying American processed cheese, select a sliced cheese option like white cheddar or Swiss, since these cheeses have less preservatives and colorants and will be much better for you in the end.

Are healthy foods really all that much more expensive?

One common argument I’ve heard is that healthy food is more expensive. That might be true. Fresh fruits and vegetables are more costly than the canned variety, and packaged hamburgers are cheaper than ground lean meat. But if you weigh the cost of a serious health problem, like a heart attack or stroke, against the slight increase in food cost, it really is worth the price.

Switching to a health diet is important to you and your family. Teaching kids good eating habits can help them have healthier lives and suffer less long term health problems. Healthy food isn’t only for dieters or the weight obsessed, it is important for maintaining a strong physique and staying healthy for as long as possible.

Buying healthy foods might be more costly than the processed junk food options, but it’s a small price to pay when compared to the cost of medical care for a serious and avoidable condition caused by poor eating habits. Teaching your children the importance of healthy eating can help them and their future by providing them with the tools to stay healthy and fit for life.