A diet transformation does not mean you do something extreme like skip entire food groups or cut all the carbs and fat from your diet. You can still make smaller changes that improve the nutrients of your food, but also help you to reach your goals. That starts with finding some healthier alternatives of your current favorite foods.
Start Slow and Gradual
Don’t rush into changing everything you eat at once, or you won’t stick to it. Instead, change just one ingredient, food, or meal at a time. To make this transition to healthy eating even easier, think o fa meal or snack where you already tend to eat a little healthier than other meals.
This might be breakfast, when you enjoy a bowl of oatmeal or eggs. Just increase the nutrients of that meal for a couple weeks, like adding sliced fruit to your oatmeal and skipping the sugar, or making a vegetable omelet instead of just eggs and cheese.
Healthier Alternatives to Sugar
Something many people struggle with is their sweet tooth. If you know you want to have less table sugar, there are many healthy alternatives you can switch to.
- Fruit – Known as nature’s candy, fruit has natural sweetness thanks to the fructose. This is not added sugar, but a natural form of sugar, and can make just about anything a little sweeter.
- Honey or maple syrup – Both of these sweeteners are great options when you are transitioning away from added sugar, but aren’t quite ready to give up that sweetness entirely. Try honey in your yogurt or add maple syrup to your baking recipes.
- Stevia – You can also try using Stevia drops, which is not an artificial sweetener, but a natural one. It doesn’t contain any sugar or calories, so it is an easy way to make foods taste sweet, but still be a little healthier.
Healthier Types of Healthy Fats
Fats are not your enemy! You just need to find healthier fats to add to your diet. Starting with oils, get rid of the canola and vegetable oils, and instead use ghee, coconut oil, olive oil and/or avocados. Eat your eggs and enjoy the yolk along with the egg whites.
If you enjoy nuts, that is a great source of healthy fats, along with nut butters. You can also eat more avocado, olives, or salmon for some healthy fats.
Finding Nutrient-Dense Foods You Love
The trick to making this a sustainable diet transformation is in finding nutrient-dense foods that you love. And trust us, they’re out there. Start with meals you already enjoy, and make a list of all the nutritious ingredients you enjoy. This might be your favorite fruits and veggies, whole grains, healthy fats, or lean proteins. Use this list as a way to start adding more nutrition to your meals.
