By following these tips on how to change unhealthy eating habits, you don’t need to feel bloated and weighed down every time you get up from your dinner table.
Food should fuel us. It should make us feel good. It should give us the energy we need to get through the day. And it should taste great too!
For many of us, our poor eating habits were formed at a very young age. That’s why it’s so hard to break unhealthy eating habits.
But if I could do it, so can you! With these 8 ways to change your unhealthy eating habits, you’ll be feeling and looking great in no time!
How To Change Unhealthy Eating Habits
So, here is how to change unhealthy eating habits:
1. You should first Identify your bad habits
If you want to get healthier or lose weight, the first thing you need to do is figure out what foods you’re eating that aren’t healthy and need to be changed.
It’s easy to pick up a bad eating habit in everyday life, so it’s important to identify what’s causing it before you make any changes.
To do this, it’s a good idea to create a food journal and write down everything you eat for three days.
Make sure you include weekends and weekdays too, since your eating habits can change drastically when you’re on a different schedule.
Writing down your diet makes it easier to spot any unhealthy habits that have built up over time.
2. You should make it a small gradual change
If you want to lose weight, it’s best to start small and keep making small changes over time.
For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, one small change a week might not be enough to make a big difference right away.
But if you keep making small, gradual changes over time, you’ll eventually see results that will help you lose weight and maintain a healthy diet.
3. Develop a healthy plan
When you’re trying to make changes to your diet, it’s important to have a plan.
Goals like ‘eat healthier this week” or ‘work out more’ aren’t specific enough because they don’t address how you’re going to do that.
Instead, small goals based on real actions or changes (e.g., going 2 times a week to the gym, and eating an extra portion of vegetables with every meal) are much more motivating and easier to reach.
Not only that but writing them out and putting them somewhere you’ll see them daily, like the fridge, is also a great way to stay on track.
4. Make it a weekly goal
When it comes to making dietary changes, week-to-week goals are much easier to reach than long-term goals.
Even if you want to make a long-term change, taking it one week at a time makes it much easier to approach and less intimidating.
For instance, if you set a goal of not eating fast food for one week, this is much less intimidating than setting a goal to not eat it for 12 months.
If you make it through one week, you can move on to two weeks, and so on.
Don’t get overwhelmed by the idea of making changes and breaking habits before you’ve even started.
5. Eliminate eating habits that create poor eating habits
You may be eating unhealthy because of certain activities or certain moods. If these moods and activities are a regular part of your life, you may be developing an unhealthy habit that’s affecting your health or your weight.
For example, many people turn to unhealthy comforting foods when they’re feeling stressed or depressed. Some people always crave something to snack on while they’re watching TV late at night.
To break unhealthy eating habits, you’ll need to consciously change your eating habits. If certain moods drive you to eat unhealthily, try to find ways to avoid them, such as doing yoga for stress relief, seeking help, or talking to your manager about your workload.
6. Always stay committed
While change won’t happen overnight, it will happen over time. Even if you don’t see immediate results, stay on the path to healthier eating by first understanding why you’re choosing to eat healthier.
- Are you choosing to eat healthier because you’re feeling better?
- Are you feeling more energized?
- Do you want to look your best?
- Do you want to spend more quality time with your kids or grandkids?
Whatever your reasons are, stay determined to adopt a healthier lifestyle to achieve those goals.
7. Try to focus on Small
As I said above, start small. Don’t get caught up in all the things you need to do. Even a small change, like cutting down on soda consumption, can make a huge difference in your health.
There’s a lot of information out there about what you can and can’t eat, so focus on one small goal at a time, get it done, and then move on to the next one.
8. Always keep trigger foods out of the house
Sometimes the best way to stop yourself from eating junk food is to keep it away from you: out of your reach, out of your mind!
You don’t want to be tempted by that bag of chips in your pantry all week long, only to find yourself reaching for them when you’re feeling weak.
Instead, make sure you have plenty of healthy foods in your fridge and pantry so you’ll never have to worry about eating junk food again!
A Word From GetMe Treated
No matter how unhealthy your eating habits are right now, with a bit of planning and hard work, unhealthy eating habits can go away for anyone.
Just give it time, set some SMART goals, and prepare yourself for success so you can look and feel your best for decades to come.
FAQs Related To How To Change Unhealthy Eating Habits
How do I overcome bad eating habits?
The key to success is to start small and make small changes in your diet and lifestyle.
Can you change bad habits without identifying your current eating patterns?
No possible, you can’t
Why is it so hard to break eating habits?
Some of our eating habits are rooted in the reward mechanisms of our mammalian brains.
How long does it take to reset eating habits?
Up to 21 – 60 days
Why can’t I stick to healthy eating?
Cravings, Mood swings, Hormonal imbalances, Stress, and Fatigue can all affect your ability to stick to a diet, and this is one of the biggest challenges people face when trying to lose weight or get fit.
Why is it so hard to eat healthy?
According to research, your financial situation, medical conditions, changes in your mood, or dietary restrictions may prevent you from enjoying the foods that are best for you.
What is a healthy daily meal plan?
Focus on Vegetables, Fruit, Whole Grains, and Fat-free or Low-Fat Dairy.
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