If you are looking for healthy meal ideas, you are not alone. Many people are taking control of their health, learning how to prevent chronic and life threatening illnesses and living longer, healthier lives. Below, you will see a couple of popular menus, along with advice for making them healthier, without sacrificing taste.

Steak & Baked Potato

Although it is still the favorite of many, the ever popular beef steak is not the best choice for anyone that wants to live a long life, free of chronic disease. A good alternative is a salmon steak and a baked sweet potato or yam.

Salmon is delicious and it is also loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the health of your heart and circulatory system. Beef steak contains some omega-3s, but the concentration of omega-6s is much higher.

Higher intake of omega-6s, combined with low intake of omega-3 causes systematic or chronic inflammation, which plays a role in heart disease and cancer.

The omega-3 found in beef is not the same as those found in salmon and other types of fatty fish. In fact, fish and seafood are the only dietary sources of DHA and EPA, two of the most important omega-3s.

You will see yams taking the place of white potatoes in many healthy meal ideas. Although the white potato is low in fat and has some nutritional value, it is a simple carbohydrate that is processed too quickly. Simple carbohydrates contribute to high blood sugar levels and high insulin levels, which in turn contributes to inflammation and can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Yams, on the other hand, are more complex carbohydrates, which are digested slowly. They contain a number of different antioxidants, as well as Phytosterols, nutrients that benefit the heart and help keep hormonal levels balanced.

Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Cole Slaw & Biscuits

If you are looking for healthy meal ideas, you are probably already aware that the menu above is not a good choice. But, where are the problems?

Chicken breasts are lean, healthy and a good source of protein, but if you coat it with breading and drop in a deep fryer, you have a high fat, high carbohydrates food that is almost as bad asa bag of potato chips. Bake or grill the breasts to keep them healthier.

The cabbage and carrots in coleslaw are relatively healthy, although the cabbage that most people eat is a hybrid, low in nutritional value. One of my favorite healthy meal ideas is to substitute purple cabbage, Chinese cabbage and kale for the standard variety. It gives the nutritional value a boost and has the same pleasant crunch.

Instead of making mashed potatoes, you can mash yams, steam some broccoli or mash some turnips. Biscuits at fast food restaurants are a source of fatty acids, the ones that are worst for your health. Try some whole wheat rolls, instead.

If you are looking for healthy meal ideas because you need to lose weight, now is the time to learn more about the importance of when you eat and what foods you eat together. It could help you reach your goals faster.