Are you confused by conflicting recommendations about what you should be eating? It’s no surprise, when you consider the amazing number of suggestions you can find online.

Here is a list of 10 things that most nutritionists actually agree on. If you follow these suggestions, then you will be well on your way to a healthy diet and lifestyle!

1. Never skip breakfast.

Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day, and you should never skip it. Just about every nutritionist will agree with this recommendation, and it will often be the first thing they suggest!

2. Keep fast food to a minimum.

The occasional indulgence is not forbidden, but, as a general rule, the less fast food you eat, the better your diet will be. Even healthy fast foods are generally not as good for you as what you can make at home, but every now and then you can indulge if you enjoy this. Just offset it with a healthy salad or some extra fruit and veggies!

3. Opt for real foods whenever possible.

When you read food labels, you will most likely be seeing tons of ingredients that are not things you should be eating. Chemically-engineered foods, processed ingredients, etc., are all often on the list, and these are things you should avoid. Even foods that are marketed as “healthy” or “all natural” may not truly be what they claim. Choose real foods when you can.

4. Eat when you are hungry.

When you feel hungry, you should eat. When you feel full, you should stop. It seems very simple, yet people often fail to follow this simple rule, often continuing to eat long after they are satisfied and even skipping meals when they are hungry to cut calories. Both are bad ideas.

5. Increase the veggies on your plate.

The more colourful your plate is, and the more variety you get in vegetables, the more well balanced your diet will be and the healthier you will be! Add veggies to every meal, the more the merrier! Enjoy the full rainbow of colours that is available.

6. Drink plenty of water.

Staying hydrated is critical for the proper functioning of your organs and body systems. Make sure that you are getting enough water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated. You lose a great deal of water through sweating and just regular metabolism, so make sure it is consistently being replaced.

7. Consume healthy snacks.

Snacking is not unhealthy! Quite the contrary, in fact. Healthy snacks help keep our metabolisms running strong and can be great for weight control as well as prevention of many chronic health conditions. Make sure that you are reaching for healthy snacks that are going to help your body feel full, keep your energy levels steady and provide the vitamin and mineral boost that you need.

8. Skip the soda.

Whether you opt for the regular or diet versions, soda is not a part of any healthy diet and should be skipped. If you must, indulge only rarely in this beverage. Regular versions contain high amounts of sugar, diet versions contain chemicals that can increase your cravings for other sugary foods and possibly lead to other chronic health problems.

9. Avoid skipping meals.

Even when you are trying to cut calories, skipping meals is not the best way to do this. Instead, use good portion control and make healthy choices. When you skip meals, you slow down your metabolism and will be hungrier later—which can lead to binging and overeating. Skipping meals is a surefire way to help you make bad choices about what you are eating.

10. Mistakes happen.

Even those following the healthiest diets will occasionally indulge a craving or make an unhealthy choice. This doesn’t derail the entire healthy lifestyle. It is hard to be perfect with many temptations available, but when you get it “mostly” right, you are probably following a very healthy diet. Do the best you can!

Healthy eating should not be confusing, but there are so many different people offering so many different recommendations, that following them closely can be difficult. Use these guidelines to lead you to a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle!