• Take a multivitamin, but don’t consider it an adequate replacement for eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Instead, think of it as a “safety net” for all the things you might not be able to eat on any given day. The Harvard School of Public Health recommends: A standard, store-brand, RDA-level multivitamin can supply you with enough of these vitamins for under $40 a year. It's about the least expensive insurance you can buy. That’s less than $3.50 a month.
• If you drink, consume alcohol moderately.  For women, this means up to one drink a day.
• Be wise with your food dollars.  It’s a common misconception that eating healthily is too expensive. However, if you try keeping a food journal (writing down what you eat and when) you may find that unhealthy food is quite expensive as well! For example, packing a healthy lunch might include items like a sandwich on whole wheat bread, carrot sticks or chopped peppers, cucumber, or other veggies, yogurt, a piece of fruit, or leftovers. All in all, this still costs less than purchasing a fast food meal.
• Don’t starve yourself!  It’s important to eat healthfully throughout the day, rather than allowing yourself to become extremely hungry. This is only likely to lead to overeating when you do eat.
• Exercise portion control.  One serving of meat or other protein, about four ounces, is about the size of a pack of cards. One cup of vegetables is about the size of your fist, or a baseball. One quarter cup of nuts or dried fruits is about the size of a golf ball or egg.

Trying to eat healthy can be so intimidating. Every day, new studies are in the paper or on the internet contradicting each other about the best way to eat. It seems like you have to have so much specialized knowledge to know what to eat or access to resources that just aren’t available in your community. On top of being intimidating, it’s just plain frustrating to feel like we don’t have access to the knowledge or the food itself to eat better!

Instead, try looking at what you do have. First of all, you have a beautiful body that needs and deserves to be cared for. Secondly, take a little time to find out what you do have in your community; for example, there are many farmer’s markets or even food coops in DC’s diverse neighborhoods, some even geared towards people of color, like the Crossroads market in Langley Park. Finally, remember that you don’t have to drastically change your diet all of a sudden in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle! Make small changes, like try cooking in olive oil instead of lard, drink some homemade iced tea instead of a much more expensive and less nutritious soda (even diet), or set aside $5 of your grocery budget each week for veggies. Reward yourself for eating well in other ways - enjoy a book or CD, have a friend or professional give you a massage, go out dancing. It can feel really good to know you’re doing your best to nurture your body.