In the pursuit of better health, it’s important to pay attention not only to what we eat but also how we eat. Even when we are taking action towards better eating habits, there are a few habits we don’t realize hold back our efforts to maintain a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Follow these tips from Eat Fit Go to help you leave these habits behind and embark on your journey to a healthier you:

• Don’t Jump on the Latest Diet Bandwagon: Diet culture has a way of making you feel like this new diet is the thing to finally get you the body you’ve been working towards. Ask yourself if it makes sense to you and is it something you can sustain for a long period of time?
  If your plan cuts major food groups, severely restricts calories or replaces whole foods with shakes, it may be a cause for question.
• Don’t Look for the Next Quick Fix: We all know the saying: ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably too good to be true.’ Losing weight is a journey and is different for everyone. Just like the ‘next greatest diet’, quick fixes are notorious for being restrictive and strict. Often they can lead to a slowed metabolism, disordered eating patterns and weight gain post-diet. A safe weight loss program should have you on track to losing no more than 1-2 pounds per week, more than that should raise a red flag.
• Not Holding Yourself Accountable: True change comes with a lot of dedication and a change in mindset. If you are frequently finding different reasons for not eating right or not following your nutrition plan, it will be hard for change to happen. Hold yourself accountable and put aside the excuses to keep you moving towards your goals. 
• Beware of Diet Foods: Low fat, reduced fat, calorie free, no added sugar, all natural, it seems there’s a new claim coming out daily. While not always true, a good rule of thumb is, if they have to convince you their food is healthy, there’s probably something to question. To make an item reduced fat they usually will have added sugar or salt to replace the flavor lost when the fat was taken out. To make a ‘no added sugar’ claim, you can likely find one or two artificial sweeteners in the ingredient list to give you that sweet taste. When in doubt, go with the food that doesn’t need a label, such as fresh vegetables, fruits, healthy fats and healthy proteins!

While there can be a lot of mixed messaging and misdirection out there in the food world, don’t get caught up in the next hot trend. In the end, the best diet for you is one that you can sustain for the long term, makes you feel energized and helping you achieve your goals.