The foods you put into your body have a profound effect on your health: consuming a diet high in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats can lead to disease, while maintaining a healthy diet can help maintain good health. Maintaining a balanced and healthy diet may require a number of modifications, based on your current lifestyle habits. By planning ahead, you can successfully incorporate healthy eating habits into your daily life.
Step 1
Set sustainable and manageable short- and long-term goals for implementing changes to your eating habits. Make a list of the changes you'd like to make to your diet -- whether that includes cutting your saturated fat intake, eating more vegetables or resolving to eat at home more often. Choose 1 or 2 small goals each week to implement into your daily routine, then slowly add additional goals and resolutions until you reach your goal diet.
Step 2
Schedule time each week to prepare a meal plan. Choose which healthy foods you plan to prepare for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks each day, as well as list the groceries required to prepare those meals. By planning your meals in advance, you can help ensure you're consuming enough of each food group each day, while having all the required ingredients at home can prevent you from picking up unhealthy fast food out of convenience. Use the USDA food guide at MyPyramid.gov to help you schedule an appropriate meal plan.
Step 3
Prepare your meals ahead of time, when possible, and store portions for future use. If you're low on time in the mornings, make and pack your lunch the night before, so you can enjoy a healthy, convenient lunch instead of eating fast food on the go. You can also prepackage snacks -- such as measured 1-oz. servings of nuts -- to help you stick to your healthy eating plan.
Step 4
Plan for flexibility and variety in your healthy diet to help you implement sustainable diet changes. Eating the same foods each day can prove monotonous, increasing the chance that you will abandon your diet plan and return to your old eating habits. Experiment with toppings, seasonings and different recipes so your diet includes a range of flavors. For example, instead of consuming plain oatmeal each day, top your oatmeal with a range of fruits and nuts.
Step 5
Consume treats in moderation, instead of completely denying yourself high-fat or high-sugar foods you enjoy. Better yet, consume healthier versions of the treats you love. Substitute wheat flour for white flour in baked goods, or add healthy ingredients, like almonds or flax seed, to your desserts to increase their nutritional value.
Tips and Warnings
- A diet tracker, such as Livestrong.com's The Daily Plate, can help you monitor your nutrient intake as you implement healthy eating habits into your daily life.
- Consult a medical professional before starting any new diet plan to help ensure the plan addresses your nutritional needs.
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