By Veselina Dzhingarova

Most moms feel immense pressure to feed their families well. With health problems like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease on the rise, parents are more cognizant than ever of their responsibility to provide their families with good nutrition. But eating right can be overwhelming. While some people devote most of their free time to selecting and preparing only the most healthful dishes, the average family does not have the time or resources to do that.

Eating well is not about going to extremes. Rather, it is about finding a balance between health and practicality. As long as you are prioritizing eating healthily most of the time, you can enjoy the benefits without getting too stressed. Here are some tips for eating right without losing your mind.

Cook a Majority of Meals

Cooking your own meals from scratch is a great way to control the amount of fat, sodium, and sugar that goes into your food. When you cook at home, the ingredients you use are fresher than those found in prepackaged dinners. This makes your food tastier and more nutritious. When you cook, prepare double or triple batches of whatever you are making and freeze the extras so you have something on hand for busy nights. You can also have a weekly meal prep day or use a crock pot to save even more time.

Even if you have stocked your freezer and pantry with healthy foodstuffs, eating out and using prepackaged meals are sometimes unavoidable, and that is just fine. Aim to make food at home most of the time, but do not feel discouraged or embarrassed if some nights you throw together canned spaghetti or order Chinese takeout. Instead, enjoy the night off, knowing that you are trying and that tomorrow is another day.

Join the Movement

Food companies have begun to recognize the importance of changing the way that food is produced in order to make it healthier. They are attempting to reduce added fats, sugars, and preservatives in their products. But just as it will take time for you to change your eating habits, food companies are unable to totally revamp their systems overnight.

Although the current situation is imperfect, you can still assist in improving it by patronizing the businesses that are leading the movement for change. In an interview with Forbes, hamptoncreek foods  founder and CEO Josh Tetrick discussed the presence of preservatives in their products. He said that while preservatives are not ideal ingredients in their foods, their other ingredients are healthy and sustainably sourced, so they temporarily accept the current state of affairs while working steadily to surpass it. Over time, he plans for his company to formulate products that are simultaneously smartly sourced, delicious, and entirely nutritious.

Snack Better

Even if you are cooking nutritious dinners at night, you and your family will not be able to fully enjoy the benefits of doing so if you continue to snack poorly throughout the day. Cookies, potato chips, and candy bars might make you feel full, but they do not do anything good for your body. Instead of filling up on empty calories, try providing your family with healthier snacks like fruit, nuts, hummus, and cheese. These will keep you filled up for longer while giving you nice doses of protein and fiber.

Enjoy Treats in Moderation

People like to call junk foods “cheats,” but using this term can be detrimental to your goals. If you perceive less healthy foods as being off-limits, you are more likely to binge when you do eat them because your chances to enjoy them will seem limited. Rather than making a big deal out of the times you “get to” eat less healthy foods, strive to simply enjoy them in moderation. If you ever do eat more junk food than you meant to, just remember that one day of overindulgence is not going to ruin your life, and move forward.

Stay Healthy and Sane

When you are trying to lead your family to a healthier lifestyle, it is important to remember that health is not only physical, but also mental. Obsessing over your vegetable servings and iron percentages is enough to drive anyone crazy. Remember, food is fuel for your body, but you should also be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of an ice cream cone without feeling guilty. Teach yourself and your kids to focus on eating foods that make your body run well most of the time, but to still savor the occasional experience of a sweet or greasy treat.

Veselina Dzhingarova is passionate about blogging. She writes for several sites online.