As you’ve heard, walking is one of the greatest and easiest exercises we can do. There are other simple steps that you can take to lose weight, get fit, and experience optimal health and be your best self!  Here are a few small steps you can take now to make a big difference in the long run.

· Keep track of your fruits and veggies…eat more! The optimal is 10 servings a day. If 10 is a shock to you, start with five, then work up to seven. Still a shock? Start at three, and move to five and so on. If that still sounds overwhelming - start with 1 more than you are eating now. Gradually increase to what a realistic amount is, then find ways to sneak veggies in! It all starts with awareness, be aware that you are not eating a healthy balance of fruits and veggies. There’s no shame in awareness, it’s the first step to a healthier you just admitting it and setting a goal to do something about it.

Not sure what a serving is? Start making a list of your “go to” choices, once you figure out an apple is a serving, then find out how much pineapple is a serving. It will make it easy to grab the right amount and know how many servings you have in. If you set your goal for 2 veggies and 2 fruits, Google a serving of broccoli and then count those baby carrots. That way, you can cross off the servings you’ve eaten easily on a daily basis.

 · Lose weight with color. Your plate should be colorful. Eat fruits and vegetables of all colors to get what your body needs.

o    Red or pinks – apples, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell peppers, radishes, grapefruit

o    Yellow – bananas, pineapple, corn, yellow bell peppers, yellow squash, pears

o    Purple – eggplant, grapes, plums, raisins, red cabbage

o    White – cauliflower, onion, mushrooms, potato, garlic

o    Blue - blueberries, blackberries, blue tomatoes, concord grapes, blue rainbow carrots

o    Orange – carrots, oranges, papaya, cantaloupe, peaches, mangoes, sweet potatoes

o    Green – asparagus, avocado, kiwi, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, peas, celery, zucchini, limes, green apples

· Remember MY PLATE. Half of your plate should be fruits and vegetables at every meal to get that 10 in! A total of 50 to 55 percent of a plate should be fruits and vegetables, 20 to 25 percent protein, and 20 to 25 percent complex carbs (grains)… and dairy

Here are a few other ways to add fruits and veggies to your meals

· Add BERRIES to your breakfast… strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, acai, cranberries, goji, elderberries

· Use Yogurt…careful…not in Ranch dressing, not in cheese…but in LOW calorie Greek yogurt. You can add dill or herbs to season and spice this up. Or dip in salsa…skip the high calorie no nutritional value chips. Yogurt is a great source of protein, probiotics for your gut and calcium/dairy.

· Have on Hand - Get your booty to the store and get those fruits and vegetables! Prepackage and wash on a weekly basis or every couple of days to make your own GREEN grab and goes! It’s quick and easy to do and saves you tons of money and calories to do this yourself!

· Package Grab ‘n Go’s - The grab and goes above become your NEW fast food…that is healthy and easy to eat and take…minus the guilt, fat, simple sugars, chemicals and weight GAIN of other fast food. Take a new route home if the car seems to go on autopilot into a drive through…we have 226.7 food choices a day to make (per research I’ve read) so take each opportunity as a new choice to make and a healthy choice to make!

A total of 20 to 30 percent of weight loss comes from our activity level and increasing that, but 70 to 80 percent of the battle is the foods we eat. Remember the calories in a Cheetos are not created equal to the calories in an apple. Eat close to the source, lots of color and within your calorie range to lose a few pounds, feel better and have the energy you long for with unhealthy food choices that promise a better life…at least it looks that way in the TV commercials!