Myth No.1:

Eating nutritiously is too expensive.

Many people believe that fruits, vegetables, fish, and the other components of a healthful diet cost more than they currently spend on food.

Myth No. 2:

It is too hard to eat the recommended 5-9 daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

Most Americans do not eat the recommended daily amounts of produce. But having a piece of fruit is not the only way to slip more produce into the diet, even though people assume that is what they should do. What about adding a couple of slices of tomato and a lettuce leaf to a tuna sandwich? Or mixing a cup of finely shredded carrots into a pot of spaghetti sauce? There are many other creative ways to add fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Myth No. 3:

I do not have time to eat better.

Sure you do. The average adult American watches over 20 hours of television a week. No doubt you could trade an hour of reruns or game shows for an hour in the kitchen preparing a lasagna layered with vegetables or a from-scratch meal of chicken breast, potato or rice, and a salad.

Myth No. 4:

My sweet tooth prevents me from having better eating habits.

Eating well does not mean denying your sweet tooth. It just means taming it. Accept that sugar—high in calories and low in nutrients—is going to be a part of your life. Just eat less of it but enjoy it more.

Do not just haphazardly eat ice cream right out of the container, or indiscriminately cut slices of your favorite coffee cake at the kitchen counter. Instead, deliberately serve up a scoop in a bowl or a slice on a plate, sit down, and savor every single bite. Mindless eating piles in a lot of calories and you might not even be enjoying it. But mindful deliberate bites with focus on taste can be very satisfying and much less fattening. When you are done, walk away knowing that you can have more tomorrow or the next day. You can have your cake and eat it, too.

Myth No. 5:

I like fast food too much to eat well.

Fast food does not have to be an all-or-nothing thing. Giving into a burger or burrito craving a few times a year will not kill you or sabotage your good intentions. Furthermore, fast food does not have to mean bad-for-you food. All the major fast-food chains offer lower-calorie, reduced-fat sandwiches and salads.

Another way to fit fast food into your healthful lifestyle is to combine it with not-quite-so-fast food. Buy the burger or fried chicken at the drive-through window. Do not order the French fries or coleslaw dripping with dressing. Instead, drive straight home, bake a potato in the microwave and serve up some of those pre-cut vegetables you bought on your weekly trip to the supermarket. You will save fat, calories, and money.

Myth No. 6:

I often overeat, which does not go hand in hand with a good diet.

It is certainly not a good idea to eat more than you are hungry for every time you sit down to a meal. But almost everyone has polished off a box of cookies in one sitting or stuffed themselves silly at a holiday dinner at least once in their lifetime. The trick is not to beat yourself up about it. Eating too much once in a while is not a fatal character flaw. In fact, the more you forgive yourself the occasional binge, the easier it is to go back to your regular, healthful eating habits the next day. Punishing yourself emotionally about how much or what you have eaten sets up a self-defeating cycle of "being good" and "letting all hell break loose" at the refrigerator door. So instead of trying to be perfect and giving up if you cannot; try to be better. Even one binge a week less than before is going to improve your health. And try to get the number of binges lower and lower.

Myth No. 7:

If I exercise, I'll be extra hungry, eat more, and gain weight.

In fact, people who exercise regularly often eat less than those who do not. Regular and moderate exercise may actually suppress appetite a bit. And, exercise can help relieve stress. Stress can lead to nibbling on more food and excess calories.

If you debunk a myth a month, you will be on a health track by the end of the year. You can do it. Rethinking the myths and the alibis can afford you more food choices than you may ever have imagined, and a resulting lifestyle that is both healthful and invigorating.

Try these recipe tips for a healthier diet.

For Breakfast, Dessert, or a Snack

The following healthy foods can be eaten for breakfast, snack, or as a topping to your favorite dessert:

• Fruit—Spoon some sliced fresh or canned fruit over ice cream or frozen yogurt.
• Apple treat—Slice up fresh apples, add cinnamon, a pinch of sugar, lemon juice and heat in microwave until apples are soft. Spoon over yogurt.
• Fruit smoothees—At high speed, blend one cup buttermilk, a banana, a dash of sugar, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Or make a thick berry shake by blending a cup of (low-fat or skim) milk with a cup of frozen strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.

Suggestions for Entrees

• Apple-pear dressing—Puree apples and pears in the blender (with a pinch of sugar) to make a dressing for pork or chicken.
• Pasta with tomato/corn sauce—Whisk 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar with 4 tablespoons of olive oil, and pepper. Add 1/2 cup canned or cooked corn kernels, one chopped scallion, and fresh chopped tomatoes. Mix in fresh or dried basil or oregano (if desired,) and spoon over cooked pasta.
• Quick chicken/tarragon dinner—Mix Dijon mustard with tarragon, and spread mixture over cleaned boneless chicken breasts. Place in pan, add white wine or chicken stock to cover bottom of pan, and cook in preheated 350-degree oven or toaster oven for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.