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MARQUETTE -- They're listed on everything we eat, but how often do we actually take the time to read and understand the nutrition facts?

Pizza, pasta, and pop--those were my groceries of choice before I started to get toned for the holidays.  But now that I have learned more about nutrition, I spend more time in the produce section than I used to.

Jenna Robinson, my personal trainer from Ringside Fitness, had me keep "food logs,"' writing down what I was eating, at what time, and what the nutrients were.

"Natalie, when you started you were shocked by how many calories were in this and how many carbohydrates were in that, and just seeing actually what you're putting into your body, and at what time...unless you write it down, it's hard to determine that," said Robinson.

But our bodies need a little bit of everything; it's just a matter of knowing what's good for you and what isn't.

Sherri Rule, a registered dietitian, said "Carboyhydrates, they are actually the preferred fuel source of the brain, and so we need to have carbohydrates in our diet because it's also a very quick energy source.  When we eat carbohydrates, they tend to make us feel good, so oftentimes we tend to overeat on them."

Some good carbohydrate examples are fruits, vegetables, and yogurt.  String cheese is high in protein and makes for a great snack.

And once you get into a healthy eating routine, you can figure out a way to balance your daily diet so that everything you eat is in moderation.

Robinson said, "Now you're to the point where you know about the food, you know what's going into your body, so you can make better decisions...you can just carry it into your lifestyle, so that you don't have to write down your food everyday or the time you're eating them or any of that.  You can just live your life and eat healthy."

So even though I'll occasionally put the pizza back in the freezer and grab some peppers instead, by exercising portion control and watching what I eat, even I can afford to splurge every so often.