Have you ever wanted to make healthy changes in your diet but don’t know how? Do you find yourself jumping from one diet to another with lackluster results? If you’re interested in creating a healthier way of eating, it all starts out with the idea of creating balance. We all know that we should cut out junk food, fried food and sodas, but is it realistic to cut everything out cold turkey? Probably not. If you’re looking for long-term sustainable change in your eating habits, it’s far better to make lifestyle changes.

1. Connect to your desired purpose: Why do you want to change your diet? Is it for better health? To lose weight? To have more energy? Get clear on your reasons to make this change more meaningful and easier to stick with.
2. Bring awareness to what you eat: Over the course of 2-3 days, write down everything that you eat and how it made you feel after eating it. Review the list and identify what didn’t leave you feeling good, physically or emotionally. This is about becoming aware of how food makes you feel.
3. Replace the bad with good: If you discover that eating a bacon cheeseburger gave you a terrible stomach ache, think of a healthier option you could try next time. For instance, a grilled chicken sandwich, hold the mayo. Or better yet, some grilled chicken on a plate with a side of rice and vegetables.
4. Focus on adding rather than subtracting: Commit to add 1 serving of greens into your day. This could be throwing some spinach into a smoothie (you can’t taste it!), having a side salad instead of french fries, adding some steamed carrots to your dinner, etc. When you start adding healthy options in, it makes less room for the unhealthy options. This isn’t about denying yourself.
5. Balance out your food: If you choose to indulge by eating a piece of chocolate cake after lunch, then balance that out by eating a healthier dinner.
6. Bring your lunch to work: Pack your lunch the night before so you don’t have to think about it in the morning. Put some healthy snacks in there too, so that you can nibble on good energizing food when you need it. Not only will you eat better, you’ll also be saving money too! Commit to doing this at least 1 time per week.
7. Eat mindfully: Bring more awareness to your food. Try eating a meal with your eyes closed. Notice the different textures in your mouth and all the different flavors. Chew your food and really taste it. You’ll discover that you enjoy your food more, and that you actually eat less because you’ll be more aware of the feeling of being satisfied. If you struggle with overeating, this is a great way to shift the amount of food you eat.
8. Eat real food: Read the ingredients labels on everything you buy. If it’s full of chemicals you can’t pronounce, don’t buy it. Your body doesn’t know how to recognize and process those chemicals either. Buy food that has real ingredients. Avoid processed food as much as possible.
9. Make your own food: If you aren’t a cook, learn how to make 1 thing. We eat healthier when we make food at home. Find a Youtube video to watch or come to a healthy food demonstration at work to learn a simple recipe you can try at home. Start with 1 thing. You got this!
10. Be kind: Be grateful for the food you get to eat. Remember that huge populations of people go hungry every single day. Say thank you for the food that will nourish your body. And above all, be kind to yourself. Life is a journey, so enjoy the ride!

And finally, if you want some personalized suggestions on ways to eat better to improve your health, consider working with a Health Coach or Nutritionist. Click here to learn more about our Private Health Coaching program.