Changing habits can be hard, especially when you have been doing things the same way for most of your life. Many of us struggle with trying to make better choices in regards to our eating habits. Temptation is always there, with fast food restaurants like McDonald’s at almost every corner. After many attempts, I have finally found a way to east into a healthy diet.

1. Stay away from fast food.

It’s easy to get tempted when we see fast food restaurants because it’s cheap, accessible, and tastes good. We are bombarded with advertisements for fast food chains and we see them everywhere. Have you ever noticed that when you stay up late you get really hungry? The best thing to do is be prepared for these moments when the cravings hit. Stock up on healthy snacks like pre-cut carrots and hummus and salsa, air-popped popcorn, or ready packaged handful servings of almonds or cashews.

2. Drink less soda.

I struggled with this because my mom buys a lot of soda. My family is addicted to coca-cola so giving up soda was extremely difficult at first but over time it will get easier. I started by replacing soda with infused water and low sugar smoothies. Drinking plenty of water is really good for your body because it flushes out toxins and.

3. Eat a Healthy breakfast.

Having a healthy breakfast is key because when you start your day without breakfast, you will be hungry by mid-morning. If I skip breakfast, I end up giving in to junk food. Instead of eating chips, candy or unhealthy snacks to try and suppress your hunger, don’t waste your money. Eat a healthy breakfast like whole fruit with yogurt, oatmeal with berries, or scrambled eggs with no butter and a piece of whole grain toast.

4. Make healthy smoothies.

Smoothies are an easy way to fill yourself up and suppress your hunger. You can put anything you want in a smoothie. Spinach, kale, blueberries, almond milk, protein powder or peanut butter are a few ideas. You can go crazy creative with your smoothie, but make sure what you put in it is healthy.

5. Buy a cookbook.

Purchasing a cookbook is a really good idea, especially the healthy cookbooks that give awesome ideas on how to cook healthy. Try to get a book that is affordable and that has easy ingredients that you have at home. A quick Amazon search will pull up some of the bestsellers but go for one that appeals to your eating preferences.

6. Stay away from the pre-packaged aisles at the grocery store.

Temptation at it’s greatest when you go to the store and see the pre-packaged foods like chips, crackers and cookies calling out to you. Every time I pass through the aisles, I always want to get a bag of chips instead of fruits or vegetables. DO NOT do this. Opt for whole foods like vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Make your own foods and prep for the week.

Becoming and staying healthy is a lifelong commitment that will take time. Don’t expect to see results overnight. Let yourself ease into this new way of life and you will begin feeling the positive results.