When you think about healthy eating people often imagine going plant-based, or switching on a strict diet of healthy smoothies and organic vegetables and fruits. You can find tons of different recipes on how to make watermelons to taste like meat or to make your own almond milk. But being on and actually enjoying a healthy diet is so much more.

There are certain misconceptions we usually have when trying to eat more healthily. The main one people are often scared that they will be hungry all the time. Also that they will end up eating tasteless, bland food or have to use ingredients they are not used to. Switching to a healthy diet doesn’t mean that you have to give up on all the things you have been enjoying so far. You can still have your favorite recipes but maybe make them a little healthier. For me eating healthy is all about choices. And yes there are some mistakes you want to avoid at the beginning which will make your transition to eating more healthy easier. To keep you more healthy check Top 5 Foods That Are Really Bad For You.

1. Healthy eating is much more than lemon water

If you look at any healthy food influencers and gurus they will talk and talk about the benefits of lemon water. From the main that it will get rid of that stubborn belly fat you are desperately trying to lose, to how it makes the food cravings go away. You will be advised again and again to drink liters of lemon water. Sometimes even on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

Honestly, I don’t really enjoy lemons. I can’t remember the last time I had any. I find them too acidic and enjoy drinking my plain boring water. Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning will give you heartburn and your belly fat will stay the same. Instead of putting them in your water try splashing some lemon juice occasionally in your salad dressing. Works better tastes better and you are getting more nutrients with the salad than just plain old lemon juice. Yes, lemons are a great source of vitamin C but so are all other fruits and vegetables that are not so acidic. And the best drink to have on an empty stomach will always be a glass of water.

2. Superfoods

This had me really confused in the past. It seems that every couple of months we get another superfood that everybody is swearing by. From goji berries, chia seeds, avocados, and kale, I even saw some people drinking balsamic vinegar with soda water and swearing it taste just like coke. I’m sorry to burst your bubble. But there are no such things as superfoods.

The theory behind superfoods is that these individual seeds, fruits, or vegetables themselves have enough vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that your body needs. So if you eat them you don’t have to worry about your nutritional needs. For our body to stay healthy we need a wide array of different foods, vegetables, and proteins that can’t be found in enough quantities in just a single food category. So eat plenty of different foods, enjoy different tastes, and don’t let the food industry fool you with the newest trends. Because after only a couple of months there will be another self-proclaimed superfood coming around the corner.

3. Eating healthy requires a drastic change of lifestyle

To be honest yes you will have to change your lifestyle but to a certain degree. But on the other side, the changes you will have to make are not drastic. You don’t have to be plant-based if you enjoy eating meat. You don’t have to give up on gluten or dairy if you don’t have any issues with them. You can still enjoy pizzas and burgers from time to time.

Eating healthy is about making decisions based on your lifestyle. What works for you? It’s not about counting calories or carbohydrates. It’s about making small changes to your everyday meals to make them more healthy but not giving up on what you like. If you still want to eat potatoes try to bake them instead of frying them. If you like pizzas try to make it yourself with plenty of vegetables and less sauce and cheese. There are a million and one things you can do to make a change in your eating habits and not make yourself stressed with restrictions that after one week will have you eating a whole pizza or splurging on a whole tub of ice cream. Eating habits are personal and so healthy eating has to be personal also. In some things, you can make a bigger effort like not eating late at the night or cutting down on sugar. But in some other things, you can make adjustments that will make your meals healthier but still nutritious and tasty.

4. You have to be rich to eat healthy

You will spend a substantial amount of money if you switch to free-range eggs, organic fruits and vegetables, and plant-based proteins. Not to mention all the slow press juices, healthy smoothies, nondairy milk, seeds, and nuts. Sometimes it feels like it’s impossible to achieve with a normal salary these days. The truth is not all your food need to be organic. If you eat seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers and markets it will achieve a greater impact and be more merciful on your wallet.

The healthy food industry is still an industry. And they know how to increase the prices and keep them high on trendy things. But there are still options out there to keep you more healthy. Just don’t buy too much. Fruits and vegetable cant stay fresh for long. So plan your meals and do your groceries based on what you plan to cook weekly. And then if you still have leftovers you can always try fermenting some food to make it last longer. Cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, peppers even garlic can be fermented and saved. From leftover fruits, you can make homemade jams and chutneys. Recipes are easy and readily available online. There are things to make healthy eating cheaper and more diverse after you do some much-needed research.

5. There are no slimming teas/powders/shakes

Don’t believe everything you see online. When you see health gurus and celebrities promoting this new health plan, tea, shake and see them looking perfect and slim there is more than meets the eye. We all know that stomach abs don’t grow on trees. You have to go to the gym to pick them up. And most of them will spend hours sculpting their figures and getting nutritionists and dieticians to prepare special meals. And whatever they can’t hide there are filters and fillers to help them look that great.

So before you spend money on the newest tea that will make you lose weight or a milkshake that will take away your appetite think again. Nobody is that perfect. Hard work, determination, and persistence are needed to make such a big change in anybody’s body. And before you take on a new gym membership let me tell you that the negative way you feel about your body will not go away after losing a couple of stones. Even when I was in my skinniest I felt like I weighed a ton. Because my mind was still focusing on all my faults and no matter how much weight I managed to lose I still thought I looked horrible. Losing weight is good when it’s needed. But being healthy is more than just the food we eat. Feeling healthy and positive about yourself even if you have some extra weight is more important than how others see you. Mind is a strong thing. Let it work for you. Tell yourself that you are beautiful every day and acknowledge every small healthy thing that you do for yourself. So when the results come and they will you will be able to celebrate each small victory.