Choosing health food and health drinks, exercising, and getting rid of bad habits are all steps we know we should take, but we put them off like a to-do list we never want to face. If it were easy to change bad behaviors quickly, people would do it all the time. Health food would be more popular than fast-food, and everyone would have a personal gym in their homes. One of the biggest impediments to making the wisest choices is the belief that we have to make only the wisest choices, all the time. It’s too overwhelming to think about, so we hold on to the bad habits, turning our noses up at health food and promising to start exercising, "next week."

What if we take a slower approach to lifestyle changes? What if we only substitute one thing at a time, making it a comfortable part of the daily routine prior to moving on to the next change? Making a minute alteration in one’s daily activity doesn’t seem nearly as intimidating as trying to vanquish every bad habit all at once.

Make it Easy With Health Drinks and Healthy Snacks

A great way to lower sugar and carbohydrate intake is to alter your beverages. Instead of replacing meals with smoothies, try just switching out a soft drink for anti-oxidant rich green tea. Don’t get led into buying "vitamin enhanced" waters, though, as they often contain high levels of sugar and artificial ingredients. Instead, look for natural health drinks that include benefits like complex carbohydrates, chlorophyll, and live enzymes from whole food ingredients.

Snacking is a challenge for many when it comes to dealing with weight and health issues. While it may be a good idea to eliminate snacking entirely, another option is to replace those snacks with "health food". You still get the satisfaction of munching on something flavorful, while putting less garbage and more good nutrients into your body. As time goes on, you can gradually switch all of your snacks and drinks with healthier options. Again, it’s not about changing everything at once but rather making a few small, simple changes that have a cumulative effect.

Putting Health Food on Your Menu

Another easy change that can have a dramatic effect is to replace one side dish with a health food option. If you would normally serve up some frozen potatoes with your evening meal, for example, start by replacing it with some steamed vegetables. After a while, you may find that you’re ready to completely replace an entire meal a week with something far healthier. Try steaming instead of frying or microwaving, veggies instead of boxed side dishes, and alkaline foods instead of acid forming ones. Strengthen the experience further by serving your health food with anti-oxidant rich health drinks. You may find that you actually start getting excited about this healthy meal and will want to select better options more often.