If you’re trying to eat healthier, you may be wondering how food products that are so good for your body can be so difficult to eat. Breaking bad eating habits is tough, and learning to like bland, healthy meals is even tougher. If you are frustrated in the process of changing your diet, don’t give up. It doesn’t have to be a struggle. Take it one day at a time, and understand that progress is incremental. Nothing happens overnight! Below are three suggestions to help you start making food choices that are better for your health.

a) Spend more of your free time in the kitchen.

Cooking your own food in your own home is one of the best ways to eat healthier. When you prepare meals for yourself, you have the opportunity to choose what goes into those meals. When you’re the chef, you can cook with healthy oils like olive oil, instead of fatty oils and butter. You can use Splenda instead of sugar in your baked goods. And you can go easy on the salt. Furthermore, you can up the number of whole grains and veggies in the meals you eat. If you don’t have a whole lot of experience cooking, you can search for some fun and delicious recipes online. Since you’re on a healthy kick, it could benefit you to find recipes that are chock-full of vegetables. When you’re at the grocery store, try to purchase vegetables that are rich in color. They will offer you more nutrients than paler looking veggies.

b) Get some new serving dishes.

Many people eat too much because their plates are too large. Over the last 40 or so years, our plates have gotten dramatically bigger. So, quite a few people end up eating more than they intend to because they simply aren’t aware of how much food is on their plates. The solution to this problem is to purchase plates that aren’t so big. Be wary of plates in restaurants. They tend to be especially big. If you notice that your portions at restaurants are too large, just divide your meal in half. Eat one half of it at the restaurant, and ask the waiter for a to-go container for the rest of it. In addition to paying attention to plates and portions, you should also pay attention to the speed at which you consume food. Slower eaters consume less food that fast eaters. So, try to chew each bite you take for five to six seconds, rather than two to three.

c) Reward yourself every now and then.

Give yourself a break every once in a while. You don’t want to get burned out. Remember that drastic lifestyle changes don’t happen in a matter of days. Many people find it useful to reward themselves for healthy eating with a sweet treat or their favorite dessert one day a week. Or you can indulge in your favorite comfort food, like chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, one night a week for dinner. Dieters who cut themselves some slack every now and then tend to fare better than those who don’t.

So, cook from home with the right ingredients for your dietary needs, learn to spot a plate that’s too big from a mile away, and remember that it’s ok to indulge occasionally. You’ll be stunned by what a big difference just a few changes can make!

Author Bio:  Brett H. is a guest writer from The Blog Content Guild who writes on the subjects of healthy eating, living, and lifestyles.