List it: 7 simple techniques to get you started eating vegetables or fruit with every meal

List it: get a pen and paper, and use them to write down 7 ideas to get you started eating vegetables or fruit with every meal. Even if you never read the list again, the act of writing something out is like a little commitment and will help you be more mindful of your choices and reasons for being healthy.

Below are some simple techniques "to eat as close to the sun as possible" that I used to get started. You can try to eat sun for a single day or a week at a time - any way you consume more plant material is a way that you are directly improving your health. I hope that you try it and see success!

1. Breakfast: Add fresh fruit to a breakfast of oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, or even on the side of your egg sandwich. It's a start. Bacon with a side of strawberries is healthier than bacon alone.
2. Elevensies: When I am hungry between meals I just eat a banana. They are like the health-freak Snickers bar: Hungry? Why Wait? Have a BANANA.
3. Lunch in: I pack salads ahead of time so the focused-in-the-morning-me already made the healthful decision before I got stressed out at work and wanted a Baconator. Pack a salad for yourself - it's like morning-you time traveled and brought afternoon-you a super special lunch.
4. Lunch out: When ordering lunch, I ask the server to substitute vegetables in for the macaroni and cheese. I know that is a hard thing to say, but the next time I weigh in I will be thankful for it.
5. Dinner in my control: Try a Meatless Monday dinner - offer to cook for the family and trick them into having a vegetarian meal if they tend to focus on meat. Insert evil laugh here: muahahahaha
6. Dinner in mom's control: At dinner, I pile veggies on my plate before taking any meat. Maybe even try eating them all before even considering the meat - when I do that I am usually full and don't want more to eat.
7. Dinner out: Check out an ethnic restaurant in your town (Indian, Thai, Japanese). They usually have vegetarian friendly options.There is a cool new vegetarian place in Islip, NY called VegeFavor right across from the Starbucks. It's Chinese style fast-food but all meat is substituted with delicious soy! Click this for approximate location. 
8. BONUS Snack Attack! If I want cookies, I eat an apple or some baby carrots first.  I tell myself I will have the cookies only when I finish the serving of fruit/veggie. Chances are I won't need the cookies anymore.

Try one of these! If you try it often enough it just might become a healthy habit.