Fast food has really stepped up its game in the last decade, serving lighter, leaner options that are more nutritious than their standard deep-fried and highly processed counterparts (although still pretty processed). "Food companies are constantly trying to keep up with their increasingly health-minded customers because they don't want to miss out on sales," says Frances Largeman-Roth, registered dietitian nutritionist, nutrition expert and author of "Eating in Color." "That's why we're seeing plenty of quinoa and other whole grains available, as well as more customization, like the ability to choose your own sauces and dressings and small and large versions of items so that customers can control the portion size."

Sure, maybe you've cleaned up your beauty routine. But have you cleaned up your diet? You'd be surprised what a big impact it can have on your skin. And even if you're not quite ready for a complete overhaul, smoothies are a nice place to start. After all, they're easy to whip together in the mornings and if you use the right ingredients, they can be pretty healthy too — they're packed with all the antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients you need to turn the wattage up on your glow, from the inside out.

Even if you wash your face regularly before bed, opt for makeup that won't clog your pores and send your prayers to the clear skin gods, you still might wake up with an unfortunate zit. Why does it rear its ugly head? Registered dietitian and professor Keith-Thomas Ayoob, EdD, RD, FAND says to take a hard look at your diet. "Your skin is an organ. It is living tissue and needs nourishment, as does every organ. Skin cells are always turning over, and it's not always about what we put on our skin, it's also about making sure there are the right ingredients present for the body to maintain and repair skin cells," he explains.

Have you noticed a lot of charcuterie boards in your Insta feed lately? Or maybe you've seen them at a party or on a menu (for a lot more money than you'd imagine). Charcuterie, pronounced (shar-KEW-tah-ree) is a fancy way of saying meat and cheese platter. Many catering companies, as well as at-home chefs, are setting the bar high in terms of beautiful board presentation.

A quick assessment of the people you know will likely reveal that the healthiest among us aren't necessarily vegans or vegetarians or Paleo devotees or even Whole30 followers. They tend to be those who listen to their bodies (i.e. don't cut out entire food groups for no reason — looking at you gluten-free!) and practice moderation. While diets have come to be synonymous with quick fixes and detoxes, they should instead be thought of as long-term healthy patterns of eating. So which diets best fit that description? We asked leading health experts to break down the pros and cons of popular diets to help ensure your long-term success.

You may have heard a lot lately about the keto diet, which has taken the internet by storm via countless Pinterest recipes, Instagram food share posts and a very popular keto-related subreddit. But if you aren't really sure what keto is or if it's right for you, here's everything you need to know about the diet everyone seems to be doing these days.

Though avocados are one of the best gifts bestowed upon us by the glorious food gods, it's safe to say we've reached peak avocado. (Avocado ice cream, anyone?) If you're getting a little tired of everything avo these days, it's nice to know that there are plenty of other buzzworthy food items to keep the food industry — and your Instagram feed — on its toes. Here are 13 food trends experts say you'll want to keep an eye (and fork) on for 2018.

Millennial pink is everywhere these days as pastel pink makeup, clothing and accessory items continue to #trend. The obsession has even carried over into the food world with Instagram-worthy toast creations, smoothies and even donuts setting social media ablaze. But the most definitive proof we haven't yet reached peak millennial pink? The feed-friendly Italian radicchio otherwise known as pink lettuce.

When it comes to eating healthy, one of the hardest parts is staying away from sweets. Luckily, we can have our cake (so to speak) and eat it too now that a handful of brands have created ice cream that's good for you. OK, that might be a stretch, but with fewer calories (as in, less than half) and grams of sugar and a whole heck of a lot more protein, "nice creams" make indulging in a cool, sweat treat a little less guilt-inducing. Sounds like a dream right?

If you're anything like me, you probably know at least a handful of people who have done (or are currently on) the Whole30 diet and rave about the health benefits. I've heard all kinds of good things can come from it, from weight loss to less bloating to better sleep, which left me wondering: what kind of effects would this diet have on my largest organ? A slew of skin issues (breakouts, allergic reactions, assorted bumps and redness) that I couldn't seem to get in check had led me to believe that perhaps something in my diet was the culprit. Combined with the fact that I felt the need for a dietary reset going into the new year, I decided that trying Whole30 might be a good move. Here's what happened to my skin.

If you've never tried chia seed pudding, you're in for a treat. It's a fast, easy-to-prep-ahead meal or snack that is totally customizable and delicious. Chia seeds are a nutrient-dense food, full of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins and minerals. These tiny seeds swell up when soaked in liquid and form a gelatinous coating that creates a luxe, pudding-like consistency.

If you're like most people, the holidays came and went in the blink of an eye. A whirlwind of food and drink that left you in desperate need of a detox. It's so difficult to say no to all the decadent party treats (and you shouldn't have to). All this indulging does add up — in the form of bloating, tummy troubles and pants that fit a little tighter than we may like. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time to start implementing some new, healthy recipes into your week.

Let's talk about winter hunger. We don't know if it's due to the lack of daylight or the brutal weather, but winter hunger pangs are the realest. Don't even think about offering us a wimpy spinach salad. Get outta here with those steamed veggies. Winter appetites call for buttery mashed potatoes, cheesy noodles and other dairy- and carb-laden comfort foods.

There's nothing worse than getting home after a long day and having to worry about cooking dinner, especially if you've got multiple mouths to feed. You're tired, and you don't want to think about how to quickly turn the contents of your fridge into something that's edible and satisfying. That's where meal prep comes in.

Ladies, we get it. Figuring out how to slim down can be as perplexing as figuring out where all of our bobby pins have gone over the years. It's just sort of a mystery. But what if we told you there was a way to lose body fat...by eating? This sounds-too-good-to-be-true approach to how to weight loss comes courtesy of a few fat burning foods.

So, you've decided to go on a diet. Welcome to the club. An estimated 45 million Americans are trying to lose weight right now, as you read this. Though the weight-loss industry is constantly booming, I think we can all agree that dieting isn't exactly fun. Reason No. 1? Whether you've decided to get old school and join Weight Watchers or get new school with raw food, the first thing to go when you start any diet is, of course, the most fun: booze.

Ah, Thanksgiving. The long holiday weekend where you have a chance to spend quality time with the fam, get a jump on your holiday shopping and eat an obscene amount of mashed potatoes, turkey, pumpkin pie and insert-your-favorite-Thanksgiving-calorie-bomb here.

Ah, Thanksgiving -- time for turkey, family bonding and plotting our plan of attack for Black Friday sales. But there are also some time-honored Thanksgiving traditions that can leave us feeling a little less than thankful. You know what we're talking about: the pressure to prepare the perfect meal, the inevitable questions about our love lives from nosy relatives and, of course, the epic food coma that makes us feel like we need to go into hibernation until the New Year.

You can call pumpkin basic all you want -- but there's a reason why it's the core of a whole slew of much-anticipated seasonal treats and recipes. It's unique, nostalgic and deliciously autumnal -- and perhaps most importantly of all, there's really nothing else like it out there that evokes the same set of feelings. When you think about it that way, it's really not difficult to understand the mass appeal of the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Let's not sugarcoat things: Eating healthy is hard. And, if you're like certain Total Beauty editors, vanquishing the sweet tooth is one of the most difficult tasks of all. After all, how can you possibly cut back on calories when you're daydreaming of Sprinkles cupcakes and frappuccinos piled high with whipped cream all day, every day? Luckily, there are some great low-calorie desserts out there to help you keep your meal plans in check; from popsicles made with real fruit juice, to miniature ice cream cones that combine portion control with novelty -- so, you don't have to deprive yourself too much.