healthyish

American  

[hel-thee--ish] / ˈhɛl θi ˌɪʃ /

adjective

Informal.

1. (of food) having considerably healthy attributes, but not so strictly healthful as to compromise taste, texture, etc..

   Our most popular healthyish soup is the fresh tomato bisque, crossing that line for some health foodies with its fearless addition of heavy cream.

2. (of a lifestyle, etc.) characterized mostly by practices of sensible, healthy habits and choices, but not with strict or rigorous adherence.

   I try to keep a healthyish balance, enjoying outdoor activities with the family and usually eating unprocessed foods.

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Etymology

Origin of healthyish

First recorded in 2010–15; healthy ( def. ) + -ish ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Living a healthy life is easy in theory but hard in practice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Dr. Hirota has published 56 papers, and his work connects molecular biology with nutrition in pursuit of better health care solutions and longer healthy life expectancy.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

For both men and women, the gap in healthy life expectancy between wealthier and poorer areas has widened compared to the data for 2013-2015.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Julian Prosia, a 31-year-old optometrist in Waterloo, Ontario, was living a healthy life when he and his wife started planning for a baby.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Fact: Every great scientist knows that an unproven theory isn’t exactly science, but the idea that Sir Fig Newton would live a long, healthy life with the silent cat killer was about to come true.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas