There is no one over 40 that I know of who doesn’t think about undergoing a health and wellness makeover. Whether it is trying a new buzzy diet, eating less meat, (or in some cases no meat at all) reducing the amount of processed foods or just consuming more greens, the truth is, feeling energized and happy about your general well being over a certain age requires more thought. Sometimes it is even overwhelming.

Eating healthier is a mindset. First, it requires self-awareness, understanding your likes and dislikes and what works best for you. And then, it’s all about the discipline. Once you commit to being healthy and well, it’s almost as if you must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to the lifestyle you’ve left behind. While it can be difficult to pin down precisely where you want to make a change once you have self-awareness and discipline there are specific ways you can turn any tenuous intention to “eat healthy” into an achievable goal.

Ok, even if you don’t want to commit 100% to veganism, you can dip your toes into the meat-free trend by upping your veggie intake, and by taking one day of the week to go meat-free. There is a compelling reason to do so now more than ever. A recent study—conducted over the span of 11 years—linked consumption of red meat and certain cuts of poultry with a substantially increased risk of developing diabetes. Yikes! And anyone who eats more meat than their body can absorb often talks about how sluggish and unhealthy they feel. That’s why trying one new plant-based meal per week is a great place to start. It’s low on the commitment chart.

There is a lot of hidden sugar in practically everything: ketchup, salad dressing, crackers, cereal. Sugar is simply bad for you. For one, you can go on the merry-go-round of blood glucose spikes.  You know that tired and grumpy feeling that you get at work where you’re either snapping at colleagues or feeling drained,  it could mean you’re experiencing the after-effects of the highs and lows of ingesting too much sugar. Sugar can wreak havoc on your skin, it messes up your weight loss goals, your diet, and researchers (not us) are calling it the new cocaine for its addictive properties and just plain bad -for-you impact.

Sure, it also tastes delicious, so it’s understandable if you’ve been dragging your feet on saying bye-bye-bye-bye-bye. Regardless if you want to live healthy try cutting back sugar by at least half the amount you’re consuming now.

Last year my wonder food was turmeric. This year its moringa, which is actually a super green super food and it is having a moment. Like turmeric, moringa has anti-inflammatory properties but wait! It surpasses turmeric in the amount and it has twice the amount of protein and six times the iron found in kale. Yep! Now you know. So when you see this ingredient popping up in juices, elixirs, teas, know it’s a good thing to buy and add to your diet.

Yes, the size of it matters but also its health because bloating, gas, and constipation are never fun. Keeping your gut happy and healthy is one of the secrets to feeling really good every day. One of my favourite sites, Well and Good, says scientific research is still uncovering the many ways our bodies are affected by our microbiome, but emerging studies are shedding light on the importance of several simple habits that can be adapted that are essential for gut health. These include understanding the importance of probiotics, fermented foods and plant-based meals in your diet.