In the last week of National Nutrition Month, the Food Bank is highlighting how small, healthy habits can help us feel our best. Like all changes, building new habits takes time, especially with our busy schedules. Getting started is often the hardest part, but once these actions become habits, they can make life feel much easier. Below are a few healthy habits you can start implementing right away. Remember, change doesn’t happen overnight. If things don’t go perfectly at first, try not to get discouraged. You can always try again!
When prioritizing your health, it can be helpful to begin with a simple, manageable change. A good place to start is focusing on adding nutrients to your diet rather than taking foods away. Adding nutrition is often easier than restricting foods, especially when you focus on what you can add to meals you already enjoy.
For example, if you were planning to make chicken alfredo for dinner, pause and ask, “What could I add to this meal to make it more nutritious?” An easy addition could be a big handful of spinach, some cherry tomatoesor even a bag of frozen peas. You could also make a small swap like choosing whole-grain pasta. This is a skill that develops the more you practice it. Over time, it will naturally become part of your menu planning.
Another habit you can work on incorporating into your life is social eating. Whether you’re eating with family, friends or neighbors, sharing meals with others has many benefits. It can help encourage more balanced meals, create opportunities to try new foods, strengthen social connections and reinforce relationships.
Last, consider adding mindfulness to your meals. Mindful eating means paying attention to your thoughts, physical sensations, and emotions while you eat. This can look like slowing down and allowing your body time to let you know when you’re starting to feel full. You might also try checking in with yourself before and after a meal – are you still hungry, or do you feel satisfied? Mindfulness doesn’t have to be complicated. Taking a brief pause to notice how your body feels can help reduce habits like eating when you’re not hungry or continuing to eat past fullness. There are many ways to practice mindful eating, so choose the approaches that feel most comfortable and realistic for you.
Remember, creating healthy habits takes time. Change can be difficult for everyone, but by reading this article, you’ve already taken an important first step by showing interest. A great place to start is choosing one approach that fits your current eating pattern. Over time, combining practices can be a powerful way to support your overall health.
References:
- Dunbar, R.I.M. Breaking Bread: the Functions of Social Eating. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology 3, 198–211 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40750-017-0061-4
- Mindful eating. The Nutrition Source – Harvard Chan School. May 1, 2020. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/mindful-eating/