If you’re like me, forcing myself to eat salads or fish, results in me NOT wanting salads and fish. (And then my eating lots of other things I enjoy because I’d felt I’d been depriving myself of them.)  Opting to eat something “because I know I should” robs you of the delicious meal experience.  Sound strange?

It’s like if your mom sets you up on a date with someone who could actually be quite fantastic, but because your mom suggested it, the guy has about the same chance as me becoming the starting center for the Trail Blazers.

But when you opt to eat something because you FEEL GOOD when you eat it, or because you know the ingredients make you look younger and sleep better, it gets a little easier.  And if you allow yourself to have what you really want (maybe it’s ranch dressing on the salad or butter on the broccoli) it’s all the more in enjoyable.

So, please don’t deprive yourself.  Just ADD healthy items to your plate.  A little wild-caught fish here, some extra greens there.  Sub quinoa for rice, and olive oil and lemon for dressing and OVER time you’ll CROWD OUT the “junk” for clean, good, cancer-kicking, weight-blasting foods. Because YOU WANT to, not because you have to.