How do you choose what foods to eat?

I just started logging the foods I was already eating - ie. the foods that I know I enjoy. Then, I worked out what my personal priorities were regarding nutrition, and looked at how things matched up in my MFP diary. I made tweaks as appropriate - gradually, so I had time to incorporate new habits. For example, I really struggled at first to get anywhere near enough protein, so I started eating Greek yoghurt every day, and more meat. For a time I also struggled to get enough fibre, so I now incorporate a lot more vegetables throughout the day, and when I have my yoghurt, I have berries on top, adding a couple of grams of fibre without even noticing.

If I have a lot of calories left over after my main meal, I look to see how well I've met my goals. If I've had a lot of protein and fibre and micronutrients, I'll probably have something in the dessert line. If I'm low in some of those nutrients, then I'll (usually) have something a bit more nutritious.

Keep it simple to start with and start with the foods you like. If you change things too radically and only eat foods for their nutritional value, cutting out all your regular foods, you might find that hard to sustain for very long.

Thanks for all the replies as they are very helpful. For the home cooked meals, how do you determine the calories and nutritional values? Also I see a lot of references to weighing the food. How do you use the weight information? Any other ideas?

I'm new too, and have a hard time with this!! How the hell am I supposed to break down homemade soups, dinners, etc? I guess I need to tally every item and divide by serving.. Give or take

A great rule of thumb is:

The more it takes human processing to get it ready to eat; the less it has anything beneficial to offer your body.

I'm glad someone asked this question, and I have wondered about this myself.

One problem I have is that for a lot of the stuff I eat I just use the "Quick Add Calories" feature. When you do that you don't get carbs, fiber, etc. added to your totals.

Also, I really don't know how much of all of these things I should be eating.

Eat real food. Less of it. Mostly plants. - Michael Pollan

This has served me very well.

What tastes good and what's in season. I like to try and focus on my fiber and protein intake too. If I get those, usually the other things are pretty good. I try not to focus on doing EVERYTHING at once. Small steps. It gives me time to adjust to it and helps to become a lifestyle change rather than a diet.

I try to go with high carb and protein in the mornings, then use my macros from there to determine what I should eat the rest of the day. If I am getting close to my fat limit I will have the chicken instead of the steak and vice versa. Over time you might be able to get a ballpark figure of your macros and you can then make those decisions without having to open the app.

I eat what I want and exercise it off

Thanks for all the replies as they are very helpful. For the home cooked meals, how do you determine the calories and nutritional values? Also I see a lot of references to weighing the food. How do you use the weight information? Any other ideas?

A good digital food scale is my best friend...It really helps me from over eating based on portion size. Converting foods that you weigh based on the huge library of foods available in the database is easy. I weigh in grams. I convert to ounces and cups where needed. I log everything that goes in my mouth. Grazing is no longer part of my diet because grazing is impossible to log.
I manage a restaurant and grazing is a life long habit.

My best piece of advice: Definately buy a food scale to weight the food you're eating. You could be eating the healthiest food possible, but if you underestimate the size of the portion you're having- it won't make a difference. I weight everything from chicken breast to pasta (yes you can still enjoy pasta). Just make sure you know how much you're eating- not just what you're eating.

They choose me....

Just kidding...my focus is primarily on nutrient dense foods...I don't get all into whether this is clean or that is clean or if this is processed or minimally processed or whatever. I think most of it's common sense...I eat a lot of fruits and veg...nuts, avocados, olive oil/avocado oil, lean cuts of beef, chicken, fish...basically a lot of naturally occuring whole foods. I cook primarily from scratch, but don't shy away from using a can of this or that for convenience either. I don't eat much in the way of "junk" but will on occasion (i.e. if I'm going to the ball game I'm having a friggin' hotdog).

Basically I try to eat as much of the "right" things as possible...all the while, getting my fitness on and occasionally indulging in some not so "right" things.

This... I'm doing this for the rest of my life... Am I never going to eat a slice of pizza again... NO! Do I make sure to work it into my daily calorie goals and weekly macros? Yes! I try to get as much micro nutrient goodness as I can into my day but I also don't tell myself that I am not doing something ever again. I haven't had a soda in over a year, but I might have one at some point in the future... At the end of the day eat to live, but remember to live with what you eat.

To each their own, but I refuse to omit grains and fruits.

go low carb! keep grams of carb certainly below 50 grams a day.
avoid grains, fruit, sugar in all forms, starchy vegetables. low carb more critical than caloric count.

I love the suggestions on here, and would like to add one more- make MFP friends who have open food diaries, and see what they are eating to be successful in their calorie allotment. I get lots of good ideas from my friends' diaries and mine is open too