The simplest of changes can go a long way. Katie shares some habits to healthy eating and small changes you can make to see big results in your health this coming year…

So you’ve decided to make healthier choices in 2011, but aren’t sure where to start? I have some ideas that might help to jump-start you into healthier eating.

First of all, be realistic! If you make a plan to fast from desserts for 90 days, you could be setting yourself up for failure. Find something that is reasonable and really stick to it!

Out of these suggested ideas, pick one or two that target an area you struggle with, give yourself a specific amount of time to do it, and actually do it without exceptions!

  • If you struggle with overeating desserts, try to go one full day without eating any sweets. Put a sticker on the calendar day when you can go 24 hours without eating a dessert. Your goal is to have more sticker days than non-sticker days at the end of the month. And hopefully the self-discipline that you’re creating by skipping desserts for a full day will help to limit your amount of sweets on non-sticker days.
  • To curb your appetite, eat 3 carrot sticks before each meal. While giving you many nutrients and few calories, they will make you feel fuller, helping you to eat less.
  • Journal everything that you eat for a week. It’s amazing how eye-opening it is when you write down everything that goes into your mouth! After a week of journaling, you’ll find yourself even more aware of what you’re eating.
  • Don’t clean your plate. Leave at least one bite on your plate to begin training yourself to stop eating when you’re full. This also means no seconds, sorry.
  • Drink more water. Did you know that ⅔ of your body is made of water? Drinking more water will help your body to function better as well as making you feel fuller. Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day.
  • Eat a big breakfast to jump-start your metabolism. But keep it healthy, of course! Eggs and oatmeal are very nutritious and filling examples.
  • Don’t eat within 2 hours before going to bed. Your metabolism is at its slowest at night.

I hope that you can make your own plan using some of these ideas! Remember, you can track your progress and find accountability in the “Weight We Were Fitness Challenge”.

Note: These ideas are not meant to substitute physical exercise, but to accompany it. Never skip meals and consult your doctor with significant changes in your diet.