You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” If this is true, you should eat healthy, right? In reality, most people struggle with their taste buds and their conscience on doing what’s right.

Most people know they should eat healthy. However, too many believe that healthy food can’t taste great and be filling. These are common miscon­ceptions that lead to poor food decisions. It is absolutely possible to serve whole­some dishes that have great taste and are filling, too. It all starts with choos­ing foods with the right ingredients.

When grocery shopping:
1.    Read the ingredients list first. If an ingredient is at the top of the list, there is relatively more of it. Steer clear of artificial additives, because they’re typically unhealthy. For example, High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Autolyzed Yeast Extract (AYE), and Butylated Hydroxy­toluene (BHT) are all ingredients
you want to avoid.

2.    Review the nutrition facts and note the Daily Value (DV) percentage per serving listed next to each nutrient. Daily Values are the recommended amount of nutrients a person should get every day. Limit foods that are high in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium by looking for a lower percent of DV. Instead, choose foods with a higher percent of DV for fiber, vitamins and minerals.

3.    Visit the frozen food section. Some frozen foods have been frozen at the peak of freshness to protect their nutritional benefits, which means they deliver just as much nutritional value as — or more than — fresh products.

When planning a weekly menu, use recipes that make the most of whole­some ingredients. These no-fuss recipes start with Contessa Frozen Convenience Meals, letting you serve up fabulous meals that don’t compro­mise on taste. Serve them as-is, or get creative.

Each ready meal can be used as a starting point for a whole new recipe with just a few changes or addi­tional ingredients.
For more recipes and a complimentary booklet loaded with tips to make you ingredient-savvy,  visit Contessa.com and request Volume 1 of “Better Ingredients. Better You.”