When it comes to health, there's no better time than starting right now. So instead of making excuses, here are some food swapping tips that will guide you to making healthier food choices:

Eat whole fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. Fruits will always have far more nutritional benefits than whatever it is you can find in a juice box.

Use oil and balsamic instead of processed dressings. The whole point of eating a salad isn't to drown it in dressing. Keep it simple with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Eat raw spinach instead of iceberg lettuce. Not only is iceberg lettuce boring, it has almost no nutritional benefits when compared to spinach (vitamin K, vitamin A, calcium, and iron).

Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. The next time you're rolling a burrito, add a dollop of plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. It has higher protein content and much less fat.

Sprinkle cinnamon instead of sugar. Try using cinnamon instead of sugar packets to heighten the flavor of coffee without adding extra calories. This works for oatmeal, too!

Choose salsa instead of cream-based dips. Consider it your fiery, flavorful alternative to cheesy, high-fat spreads.

Replace popsicles with frozen grapes. They're just like bite-sized Popsicles, but with no added sugar!

Drink sparkling water instead of soda. If you don't like straight soda water, go for fun flavors like lemon-lime or even vanilla.

Use fresh fruit instead of syrup to top up pancakes. They taste just as good and have far less calories than maple syrup.

Snack on air-popped popcorn instead of chips. It's the perfect solution for those salty and crunchy cravings. And a dash of salt—three whole cups is only about 100 calories!

Order red wine or beer instead of a margarita as it contains only about half as many calories.

Choose brown rice over white as the latter is usually stripped of many essential nutrients (like fiber) during the polishing process.

Switch from regular to whole-wheat pasta as it's filled with antioxidants and fiber, which gives off that nutty flavor.

Switch to oatmeal instead of sugary cereal to boost your heart health.

Stick to mustard instead of mayo for sandwiches (since its mustard fat-free).

Spread avocado on bread instead of butter. Add a dash of sea salt and some sliced tomato for a great midday snack.

Choose lean meats instead of fatty ones for that boost of protein without the fat. Top choices include turkey and chicken over pork and beef.

Opt for marinara sauce instead of white sauce; the extra calories in white sauce just aren't worth it.

Order black coffee instead of a latte. Once you adjust to simple black coffee, you won't even miss that calorie-loaded frappuccino.

Eat hard-boiled eggs instead of fried eggs. It's the fastest fix for a protein-packed breakfast.

Stick to raw nuts instead of nut butter as the latter contains far more fat and sugar.