Healthy eating is simply a series of choices we make, day in and day out, about what we put in our bodies. If we depend on the processed, high-fat and high-sugar options that seem so convenient, we end up paying the price in low energy, a weak immune system and susceptibility to illness. Suddenly convenience foods are not so convenient. Healthy eating takes a little planning, consistent habit-forming choices and self-discipline, but the effort required is returned in the benefits received. And if you eat in a healthy way the majority of the time, then every now and then you can indulge without guilt.

If you are what you eat -- and you are -- then healthy eating is all about making you a healthy being. That's the point of eating healthful meals, snacks and even desserts: to keep yourself healthy, free from illness and sickness, with an active immune system, a well-functioning digestive system, strong bones and muscles and a good body fat ratio. Of course, many people think of healthy eating simply as a means of losing excess fat; what they actually mean is dieting, which in some cases is a fat-loss method of healthy eating for a certain amount of time (until the fat is gone) but in other cases is as far from healthy eating as you can get. The primary function of healthy eating is not about losing weight, but about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, consuming delicious, fresh and natural foods, and keeping your body in balance.

As disease statistics get more frightening, healthy eating becomes more important. The risk of cancer and heart disease alone are powerful reasons to make your normal way of eating a healthy one. There are many more factors than diet in the causes of cancer and heart disease, but maintaining healthy eating habits makes your body much more able to defend itself against environmental toxins, bacteria, viruses and other factors that can cause anything from the common cold to life-threatening conditions.

The different types of healthy eating methods are extremely varied and develop from factors as diverse as culture, tradition, budget, religious beliefs, ethical concerns, environmental concerns and culinary preferences. Some of the more commonly known methods for healthy eating include vegetarian and vegan eating habits. A vegetarian will eat fruit, vegetables, grains and dairy, but no meat (though some vegetarians consume fish as part of their normal diet). A vegan will eat fruit, vegetables and grains, but no animal products of any kind. Other methods include a low-carbohydrate diet (which would include meat and dairy) or a diabetic-friendly diet (which is low-carb and low-sugar).

No matter the type, the essential features of healthy eating remain the same. If you want to eat in a healthy way, you need to consume fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins in the form of legumes, fish and seafood, and/or lean cuts of meat, and a reasonable amount of fat from dairy products, oils, nuts and seeds. Many people, especially in the Western world, consume far more protein and fat than is necessary and far too little of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are packed with nutrients. Moderation is the key to healthy eating; nothing is completely off-limits, but high-fat or high-sugar items should be consumed in small amounts ad not as often as the low-fat, low-sugar and much more beneficial food choices.

Someone who has healthy eating habits for the majority of his or her meals can go out occasionally, indulge in a steak dinner or a rich dessert, and not be very concerned about the consequences. If your body receives lots of healthy food most of the time, then the occasional unhealthy choice is okay. It's a nice feeling to be able to eat a rich meal, knowing that you've "earned" it, your body can handle digesting it and your normal eating routine will bring things right back into balance. An overall higher level of energy is common with people who make healthy eating choices, because their bodies are not weighed down by large amounts of fatty foods. Their digestive systems are healthier and able to process food better. Healthy eating, especially when coupled with regular exercise or athletic activities, results in better overall health. Making regular healthy eating choices also tends to have a psychological effect: When you treat your body better, you feel more confident in what it can do and have more respect for yourself. Some would say the attitude change alone is reason enough to form healthy eating habits.

As with any new habit, healthy eating can be hard to do when you aren't used to it. The best way to begin eating in a healthy way is to make small, consistent changes. When one small change becomes your new, regular habit, add another small change and be consistent with that. For example, try replacing the soda or sweet tea that you drink with meals and drink water or unsweetened tea with lemon instead. If you really want a soda or sweet tea, have one but make it a 12-ounce can instead of a 48-ounce fountain drink. Once drinking water with meals (and in between) has become a habit, try to replace your snack food. Don't buy any more of the unhealthy options you usually go to. Instead, stock up on fresh fruit. Buy vegetables and spend some time at the beginning of the week washing them and chopping them into good dipping size. Purchase whole wheat crackers, trail mix and tree nuts. Let those items become your snack foods. If you continue making those small changes one at a time, soon your whole way of eating will be healthy and you will experience all the benefits of a body that knows healthy eating.