How to Break Bad Eating Habits

You can break your bad eating habits

Whether your goal is to lose weight or just maintain, learning how to break bad eating habits is crucial for good health. Bad habits - eating or otherwise - start early. A cookie for a scraped knee at seven years-old can easily turn into a whole package of cookies at age 30. The truth is, it's not easy to break bad eating habits, but it's not impossible either. It takes awareness and patience, but the reward of improved health is well worth it.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Take control of your eating. Make a commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle, which includes healthy eating habits.

2. Write down your goals. Give yourself milestones to reach. It takes at least 20 days to change any habit. Work on one or two at a time. Trying to change everything at once is a sure path to failure.

3. Clear out the bad stuff from your house. Out with the cookies and ice cream... at least until you can get handle on your eating habits.

4. Stock the pantry and fridge with the good stuff. A good diet plan allows a healthy variety of foods, including snacks.

5. Carry a snack and don't let yourself get hungry. It's better to eat a power bar than to indulge in a whole pizza.

6. Find substitutes for the bad foods you crave. If you can't go a day without a chocolate bar, try a cup of sugar-free cocoa.

7. Keep stress at bay. When things don't go well, it's easy to revert to old habits. Eating healthy will ultimately help with stress.

8. Talk a walk. Exercising not only improves your overall health, but it can be a way to distract yourself when an eating urge strikes.

9. Give yourself kudos when you meet your goals of eating a healthy diet. Try non-food rewards, like a bouquet of flowers or downloading a new song.

Tips & Warnings

• Take one day at a time.

• Breaking a bad eating habit doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite foods and snacks for life. A healthy diet includes all types of food... in moderation.

Resources

• Try snacking the South Beach way