Congratulations! You survived the holidays. Temptation time is over, and you've resolved to eat healthier in 2007. But where should you start? And how can you keep your resolution when not-so-healthy choices lurk around every corner? Make it easier on yourself. Follow these tips, and you'll find healthier eating may not be as hard as you thought.

First Things First: Food choices are more likely to be good for you when they're made with a little forethought. Here's how to set yourself up for success:

• Make a Plan: Sit down at the start of every week and decide what you'll eat each day. Not only will it help with your shopping list, it can ensure that all of your meals are balanced. Pressed for time? An online program such as Start Making Choices™ can create daily, weekly, and monthly meal plans for you.


• Stock Up: Go shopping once a week to make sure you have plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other better-for-you products at hand. Learn to read labels, and look for the American Heart Association® heart-check mark. Use the Healthy Choice® Shopper to help you find Healthy Choice products throughout your supermarket. Our products are created using flavorful techniques that minimize the need for added salt, sugar, and fat.


• Put Good Food at Your Fingertips: Chop fruits and veggies as soon as you get home so you can easily grab them when the munchies hit. Put these and other healthier treats—nuts, snack mixes, etc.—in bowls and baggies to stash in your fridge, your purse, or your desk at work. For quick and convenient prepared foods, stock up on Healthy Choice meals and soups. Pop one in the microwave for a delicious dinner or snack in mere minutes.

Don't Skip Breakfast: Studies show people who eat breakfast consume less fat and more vitamins and minerals throughout the day. They also have lower serum cholesterol levels. If you're in a hurry, try these tasty options:

• Fresh Fruit: You can't go wrong with a handful of fresh strawberries, a juicy ripe orange, or a satisfying banana. Simply grab a piece and go.


• Whole Grain: Whole-grain foods have more fiber, and they're more filling. Pop a piece of Healthy Choice Hearty 100% Whole Grain bread in the toaster while you gather your things in the morning. Top with low-sugar preserves or low-fat spread. Picking up a bagel? Ask for whole wheat instead of plain.

Love Your Lunch: It may seem easier to grab a burger, but healthier choices can be just as easy:

• Pack It: Instead of heading to the corner deli, enjoy convenient, delicious Healthy Choice soups. They come in microwavable bowls with flavors such as Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle and Country Vegetable. Café Selections Pizzas are easy to eat on the go. Or enjoy a light, satisfying meal, such as our Café Selections Roasted Chicken Chardonnay.


• Avoid Soda: Who needs the empty calories? Drinking water will help you feel more full. If you need sweetness, have a glass of fruit juice.

Do Dinner Right: You don't have to labor over the stove to enjoy a healthy evening meal. Try these strategies instead:

• Make It Healthy Choice: Healthy Choice has a meal for every occasion. Café Selections meals bring restaurant-inspired recipes to your kitchen, with offerings such as savory Beef Merlot. Simple Selections entrees satisfy your taste for traditional foods such as Macaroni and Cheese or Roast Turkey Breast. Can't imagine dinner without dessert? Complete Selections meals are for you.


• Cook for Two: Two meals, that is. When cooking, double each recipe and freeze half for later. Or cook a few extra ingredients to use in the next day's meal. Leftover pasta makes great pasta salad. Toss the rest of that lean beef into a stroganoff. Get the picture?


• Develop a Recipe Repertoire: Find seven to 10 healthy recipes you love that you can whip up quickly, and post them on your refrigerator. Use the Healthy Choice Recipe Finder to find delicious recipes that make it easier for you to get your daily servings of fruits and vegetables.