With rising health concerns and an increased popular focus on the important role of eating a healthy diet, it can be hard to know which pieces of advice to follow. Never fear, though, this article compiles some of the most useful tips all in one place, to help you get started on the right path to good nutrition.

Eat your vegetables and your children will too. Children like to be like mom and dad which means that eating vegetables with meals, and more importantly as snacks, sets a standard with your children. They will learn to love them once they start eating them since you are eating them as well.

Niacin is an important part of a healthy diet. It helps in the maintenance of the skin, the gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes. Niacin also assists in circulating the blood and nerve function. Niacin works in the body to release energy from fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food for effective use in the body.

Instead of snacking on sweet items like cookies and ice cream, try their healthier counterparts. Replace cookies with items like granola, oatmeal and cereal, and fruit bars. For ice cream, try going with low-fat or non-fat yogurt. These options not only taste better than the unhealthier ones, but you get nutrients like iron, calcium, fiber and much more in your diet.

Whole grains are a valuable part of a nutritious diet. Refined carbohydrates such as white bread is less healthy than whole grain products. Try including brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and 100% whole grain bread to your daily diet. Whole grains have significantly more fiber than more refined or "white" grains.

The holistic approach says we are mind and spirit as well as body. If we take this approach, nutrition becomes more complicated than if we only consider physical substances. If we include mind and spirit as having a transmuting effect on what we eat, then nutritional choices become subjective and individual to some degree.

Follow the Mediterranean diet plan. This diet is typically followed by people who live in Greece, Spain, France and Italy. It mainly consists of fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, dairy products. wholemeal pasta and olive oil. Meat is only consumed occasionally. It isn't really a diet, rather a lifestyle. Eat good food in moderation, and know what to avoid. Any artificial products are a no-no. Not only will you lose weight, you will feel much healthier.

Instead of reaching for coffee or an energy drink the moment that you wake up, turn to a grapefruit, apple or orange instead. Natural fruits are fantastic for your body because they come with a multitude of vitamins that are essential for your health and nutrition. Adding these to your routine, can also improve your energy level during the day.

Do you want to eat a lot less red meat? Eat red meat in very small portions. Meat can add texture and flavor to grain-based or vegetable dishes. The Chinese and Mediterranean people do this and that's why they have a lot less problems with heart diseases.

You can boost your chance for conception with some super foods like oysters, yams and berries. Oysters are a concentrated source of the zinc, which is important for conception. Research has suggested that yams may stimulate ovulation. Berries contain antioxidants, which can protect the body from cell damage, including the cells in your reproductive system.

These are just a few ideas that can get you going in the right direction or that can give you some new ways to get the nutrients that you need. Don't expect instant results - this is a long-term process. Ignoring the advice is like running a motor without ever changing the oil. Sure, you won't see any effects for a long time, but little by little the motor is sustaining irreversible damage. Don't let that happen to your body!