Making dietary changes is a great goal, especially when you consider how to care for your overall health as you age. The ways you eat, sleep, exercise and manage stress have an important impact on your health.
Unless you’ve recently started a new diet or eating plan, your dietary habits have likely taken years to develop. It can be challenging to change multiple habits at once, so consider setting a small goal such as eating one vegetable during dinner and working toward that for a few weeks. When you’re consistent in achieving that goal, then incorporate another.
When setting your goals, think long term. If you set a lofty goal like avoiding dessert altogether, what do you think will happen at parties, work celebrations and holidays? You’ll likely hit a weak spot and experience failure. Instead, try setting a goal of limiting desserts to special occasions or having one dessert per week.
Remind yourself of why it’s important for you to make these changes. Implementing and maintaining good daily habits will set a healthy path for years to come. Consulting a physician and health coach or dietitian before starting your diet, and having advocates to support you physically and mentally, are important parts of the process.C
