According to experts, eating a salad almost every day may be one of the healthiest habits an individual can adopt. The problem is that too often, people assume that the only way to live a healthy lifestyle and eating habits is by limiting oneself to only certain foods; in this case, salads. Although salads are great way to include a few servings of vegetables a day, they are not the only foods you are “allowed” to eat when trying to pick up healthier habits. Truth is, there is so much more than just salads. A salad life can get awfully boring, and healthy eating does not have to be boring.

“I know this may sound silly, but at some point I assumed that the only way to lose weight and be considered a person that eats healthy was by cutting off all my consumption of breads and only eating salads,” said student Linda Valenzuela. “Now I know, I was misinformed.”

While salads are a good option to kick-off a fresh start, it is important to keep in mind that sometimes even salads can be unhealthy. You may ask, how is that? It all goes down to the selection of items we decide to include in our salad. Also, the type and amount of dressing we are adding.

It is common for people to begin diets, but because of plain, repeated meals they get bored of having the same thing over again, it leads them to return to old habits. It is very important to eat a variety of foods to make a balanced diet. Lacking in variety can often make a person feel restricted. And restriction can lead in to binging and create new unhealthy habits.

“I do not know a lot of information about healthy habits,” said student Yahaira Torres. “I tend to base my decisions based on the people that I follow on Instagram, or posts I find on Pinterest.”

How do we know what a healthy eating plan is? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a healthy eating plan should emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy. A healthy eating plan should also include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. Our bodies require change.

There are many ways you can change the boring diet to a fun and exciting one and still receive the necessary nutrients. A few ways to do this is by simply trying new foods and mixing up ingredients. You can also look for easy recipes online. As well as use healthier alternatives and reduce the amount of salt, sugar, and butter that you may currently be cooking with. Tracking meals may also be a helpful tool to ensure that you are meeting the required nutrients based on your specific goals.

“The thing that’s really helping me right now is the MyFitnessPal app,” said student Laura Nichols. “At first it looks like one of those terrible calorie counter apps, but it really goes beyond and shows you the nutritious facts behind your meals and how you should be eating.”

Bottom line is, eating healthy is not easy for everyone. However, it is possible and it does not have to be bland or boring. It is possible to make your old favorite recipes in healthier new ways. This way you can still enjoy delicious food without the guilt.