Though you may not think that you can handle this and make the transition, it helps to take it a little bit at a time. Making some small diet changes can be very effective and can help you to stay on track, even when you feel overwhelmed. Take it slow, and then you can ramp up to a whole new diet—using this sort of transition and building momentum can really help you to stay committed and get what you want out of this.

The problem that so many people have is that they try to jump into a new diet all at once and with very little warning. You may be setting yourself up for failure if you don’t take it slow, for it’s hard to stick to it with so many changes at once. When you make a little change at a time it really helps you feel committed and enjoy what this does for you. It’s much easier and it allows you to really enjoy the health benefits a little at a time, and therefore to stay motivated to stick with it. You will feel better, you will love how you look, and ultimately you will want to stay with this new diet, for the changes are simple enough to make and the rewards are well worth it. You will love this new approach for so many reasons!

If you’re not sure as to which small diet changes are worthwhile and which will benefit you the most, then here are some ideas for you. These can make for a good starting point and then the rest will fall naturally into place when you come to enjoy just how wonderful this new way of eating can be for you in the long run.

Put in some prep work in advance: The more preparation that you can put into eating healthy, the more that it will benefit you in the long run. When you put together your grocery list, really be sure that you think it through and get the most natural and healthy ingredients. When you get home from the store chop up fresh veggies and fruit and portion out the meats and grains that you need for certain meals. By taking the time to put the prep work in earlier you will not only take the guesswork out of what you should eat, but you are motivated to cook a healthy meal for a lot of the work is already done for you. That’s a true win/win for healthier eating overall.

Use less salt, sugar, or condiments overall: As a society we tend to eat far too much salt and sugar, and we use too many condiments or processed ingredients overall. Take your salt and sugar intake down a little at a time, and this will represent one of the best small diet changes. When you eat less salt and sugar and you replace unhealthy condiments with good fats such as avocado or olive oil, you help to get healthier but you also ensure that you cut back on your calorie and fat intake. This will naturally set a healthier landscape, but it will also ensure that you take in fewer calories and therefore make losing weight much easier for you too.

Add fruits and vegetables into every meal: This might sound like a lot of work, but it’s really not. Throw in an apple with lunch, bring a salad, or feature a certain vegetable with your breakfast. When you eat more fruits and vegetables you don’t focus on the unhealthy foods as much. These fill you up as they are full of fiber, and you ultimately eat less. You want to eventually get to a point where you cover half of your plate with fruits and vegetables but take it slow. You will learn to love these nutritional gems, and when you feature them in your meals it makes for a sustainable meal plan moving forward.

Portion out your meal in advance to take out the guesswork: So much of our problem in losing weight comes about due to our portions that are far too large. If you portion out your nuts and seeds, meat and proteins, grains, and learn what make up proper portions of all of your foods then you will lose weight. You want to eat healthy foods but you also want to be mindful of portion control too. This is one of those small diet changes that can help you to get started, but ensure that you maintain proper portions for the long term and make this a natural part of the way you eat and live moving forward.