A local expert is encouraging people to watch their diet and eat healthy. 

Guthrie County Hospital Dietitian Carol Laughery says having a good diet plan is essential to maintaining a healthy weight. Laughery explains the first thing people should consider is what food groups are in your meals. 

“So eating lots of fruits and vegetables, particularly looking at the different colors of the fruits and vegetables, trying to eat a variety of them. So you get all the nutrients and vitamins from that food group.”

Laughery says people need to be aware of high fat and sugar foods in their current diet. She states that a critical part of starting a diet is breaking old habits. 

“Dashboard dining, computer, eating some of those habits where we walk into a convenience store and pick up the pizza on the counter or the cookies or whatever. Those can sabotage us for adding weight as well as maybe any efforts we’ve made throughout the week.”

Also, Laughery stresses eating a good breakfast in the morning and drinking plenty of water as other keys to a good diet.