5 Healthy Changes You Can Make in Your Kitchen

>> SIMS: Hi, I'm Sims, Healthways fitness coach and today we're at my house to talk about 5 changes you can make in your kitchen for a healthier New Year. First off, ditch sugar and artificial sweeteners. My suggestion is to read the label. You'd be surprised how many healthy foods have sugars and sweeteners added. Even foods you don't expect, like dried fruit and tomato sauce. For instance, this tomato sauce has sugar added. It's third on the list. But this one over here doesn't have any sugar added, making it a healthier option. Try swapping out sugary desserts for dark chocolate. I promise your taste buds will change over time. Next, get rid of hydrogenated fats and oils. Let's start with convenience foods. If you have to poke a hole in it and zap it in the microwave -- it's probably not the healthiest choice. Another way to get rid of hydrogenated oils and fats is to swap out things like margarine and sandwich spreads and add in things like hummus and mustard -- and be sure to have things like avocados and nuts handy year-round. They're good fats. If you find yourself eating a lot of processed foods because they're convenient, try making your own snack packs ahead of time. Things like carrots and nuts, apples, clementines, even bananas are great for travel. The really important tip is to drink more water. If you need a little flavour add some lemon or lime, or even 100% fruit juice. If it's convenience you're looking for, try making a few bottles the night before. They're easy to grab and go. And if it's the carbonation you might miss, from your favourite soda, try using sparkling water. I hope you found this information useful. Share tips of your own on the Healthways FIT Facebook page.