HEALTH COLUMN

Improving your nutrition does not have to be difficult. A good way to start is with one of these suggestions.

• Keep a bowl of fresh fruit available. Place a bowl or basket of fruit on your counter at home and/or on your desk at work. Availability is everything. If it's there, you're more likely to eat it.

• Eat breakfast. After an overnight fast, your brain needs fuel to perform well. Skipping breakfast probably won't save you any calories, either. It usually just makes you more hungry for lunch or a midmorning snack. Spreading your food intake over the day (starting with breakfast) is the best way to burn calories most efficiently.

• Plan ahead for routine meals and snacks. People who eat regular meals get a more balanced, healthier diet and are closer to their goal weights. Planning will also save you time.

• Pack your lunch the night before. If you don't eat breakfast or pack a lunch because you rush too much in the morning, set everything up the night before. Create a routine that you don't have to think about in the morning.

Buy a healthy cookbook or food magazine. If you like to cook, this can help.

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