Read food labels. Never buy a grocery item without reading the label. If you can't pronounce it, don't buy it.

Avoid "partially hydrogenated" anything. That means it contains trans fats which can raise your cholesterol and contribute to heart disease.

Stay away from "fat free" foods. We now know that too many carbs can make you fat and fat free foods are loaded with carbs.

Avoid fast food. I haven’t been to a fast food restaurant in years. This will make the biggest difference in your health.

Avoid soft drinks. Read the labels. A typical cola has around 40 mg. of sugar - that’s almost 1/4 cup of sugar!

Avoid artificial sweeteners. They can cause headaches, dizziness, vision problems, sleep disorders, memory loss, fetal brain damage, liver problems, seizures, and the list goes on. They’re especially harmful to children.

Keep snacking. Eat smaller meals and snacks throughout the day and avoid big meals with huge portions. You’ll stay thinner and live longer.

Five-a-Day. You really should try to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day but hey, even one is better than none.

Drink green tea. This may be the ultimate health food. It’s loaded with antioxidants and protects against cancer and heart disease, lowers cholesterol, increases metabolism, prevents bad breath, and more.

Get Off Your Ass. Is that rude? But I did get your attention. You have got to move. You don’t have to jog 10 miles or bench press anything. Just move. Walk through the mall; play with your kids; run with your dog; bike to the post office; put on Chubby Checker and do the Twist. No excuses. Just do it.