The lay of the land. When shopping for food, remember that grocery stores are primarily laid out with the most healthy and nutritious foods located around the perimeter of the store. The inside isles are where you'll generally find foods high in fat and sodium and lower in nutrients.

Uncontrollable urges. Many unhealthy food purchases at the grocery store are frequently made on impulse. Impulse buys can occur when grocery shopping is done without a shopping list and/or you do your shopping on an empty stomach. To lessen the chances of unhealthy impulse buys, eat a nutritious snack prior to shopping and make a grocery list and stick to it!

Be natural. A good rule of thumb is to try and eat food that is as close to its "natural" state as possible. For example, steamed red potatoes are much healthier (and less expensive) than a pre-packaged "Potato Au Gratin" side dish.

The spice of life. Eat a wide variety of foods and don't be afraid to try something new! Not only will it make mealtime more exciting, you'll be able to meet your nutritional needs as well.

Follow an outline. If you need a basic food plan to follow, use the Food Guide Pyramid, it will ensure a balanced, nutritious and healthy diet. Check out this informative piece about assembling nutritious meals based on the Food Guide Pyramid, written by Renee Cloe.

Read the label! Unfortunately, the naming and packaging of many food items can be deceiving in terms of what you "think" you're getting. Knowing how to read and interpret the food label is the best way to ensure you're getting what you want.

Don't expect changes to happen overnight. It has taken a lifetime to acquire your current eating habits. Consequently, it will take some time to strengthen your good habits and learn additional healthy ones. Your bad eating habits will soon begin to lose their strength as you quit practicing them and they will eventually disappear.

Read, listen and learn. Nothing will solidify permanent changes in your eating habits better than educating yourself about nutrition. Your local library, magazines, and the Internet are just a few resources that you can use to gain deeper knowledge of healthful eating.

Unless specified by your doctor for medical reasons, healthy eating is not about following a rigid, pre-determined menu. Stay away from "diets" that deprive you of a well balanced diet with lots of variety.