Increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables is important as they prevent malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies; they reduce the risk of many cancers, diabetes, and heart disease; and they balance out acids coming from proteins and grains and reduce osteoporosis risk. Also, the higher fiber intake improves blood sugar control, reduces appetite, and increases digestive health.
When shopping at the grocery store look for and avoid foods with: trans fats, long ingredient lists containing lots of artificial ingredients and added chemicals, and otherwise healthy products that contain additional sugars added like sucrose, glucose, sugar, maltodextrin, corn syrup, etc. Also, be skeptical of foods making health claims like: added vitamins and minerals, wholesome or healthy, no added sugar, contains real fruit, natural, fat-free, low-carb, high-protein. Always check the label to see what is in the products you are buying and purchase food that is as unprocessed as possible.
Sometimes a plateau is reached in your training program after initial progress. This is due to your body being lighter and burning less energy with every activity you do. To get over this plateau either increase your activity, consume a little bit less food with each meal, or a combination of both. If you are trying to gain lean muscle mass then you need to consume more calories during each meal. Measure your progress often so you can adjust your plan and minimize the occurrence of these plateau’s!
To reduce body fat, improve muscle mass and recovery, and boost your metabolism, ensure that you are consuming an adequate amount of protein by eating protein dense foods with each meal. A portion size is about the size of the palm of your hand. Women should have one portion per meal (20 – 30 g) and men should have two (40 – 60 g).
A lifestyle change doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with one new habit at a time. When that habit becomes second nature, move on to the next one. A new habit that will 
benefit you greatly is to add at least two servings of vegetables with each meal. Doing so will provide you with many vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that will fight cancer, destroy free-radicals, and neutralize acid in the body. Now this is one habit worth starting today!