You’re walking down the street, and your senses are overwhelmed by the scents of Greece, the Middle East, Mexico, America, and more. Ah, the food trucks creating their yummy street fare. But if you’re trying to stick to your healthy eating plan, does that mean you have to walk on by? Not necessarily.

Sure, many food cart meals or street foods aren’t topping any uber nutritious foods lists, but nutrient content isn’t all there is to healthy eating. It’s important to keep the joy and pleasure in your eating. Enjoying “treat” foods occasionally is a great way to keep your eating fun as well as help you stick to your healthy eating because you’re not in a constant state of deprivation.

Of course, that’s not to say go hog wild every time you walk past a street food vendor. It’s all about balance. There are ways to enjoy these foods while keeping health in mind. In some cases, you might have an option of ingredients such as choosing a leaner meat filling, skipping the high saturated fat, salt, or sugary sauce, or adding fresh fruit. Try to take advantage of these when you can. No need to skip these tasty street foods altogether.

Helpful hints: Next time you can’t resist the nearest food cart, keep these tips in mind.

(Environmental Nutrition is the award-winning independent newsletter written by nutrition experts dedicated to providing readers up-to-date, accurate information about health and nutrition in clear, concise English. For more information, visit www.environmentalnutrition.com.)

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