Strategic habits for better nutrition

The saying “old habits die hard” is true. When it comes to food choices and dietary habits, making changes that last can be particularly challenging. Yet as the science behind making habit changes evolves, so do the strategies available to help you develop new habits that stick. This Strategic Habits for Better Nutrition worksheet takes you through 3 steps to build better nutrition habits.

Published on: August 28, 2024


CHAMP wants to know:
How useful was the information in this article?

American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, American College of Sports Medicine, Rodriguez, N. R., Di Marco, N. M., & Langley, S. (2009). American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Nutrition and athletic performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise41(3), 709–731. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e31890eb86

American Heart Association. (2024). Fruits and vegetables serving sizes infographic. Retrieved 6 August 2024 from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/fruits-and-vegetables-serving-sizes

Barber, T. M., Kabisch, S., Pfeiffer, A. F. H., & Weickert, M. O. (2020). The health benefits of dietary fibre. Nutrients12(10), 3209. doi:10.3390/nu12103209

Chianese, R., Coccurello, R., Viggiano, A., Scafuro, M., Fiore, M., Coppola, G., & Meccariello, R. (2018). Impact of dietary fats on brain functions. Current Neuropharmacology16(7), 1059–1085. doi:10.2174/1570159X15666171017102547

Clifton, P. M., & Keogh, J. B. (2017). A systematic review of the effect of dietary saturated and polyunsaturated fat on heart disease. Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases: NMCD27(12), 1060–1080. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2017.10.010

Cleveland Clinic (2023). How to tell when you’re full (before you feel stuffed). Retrieved 6 August 2024 from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-tell-when-you-are-fullDighriri, I. M., Alsubaie, A. M., Hakami, F. M., Hamithi, D. M., Alshekh, M. M., Khobrani, F. A., & & Tawhari, M. Q. (2022). Effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on brain functions: A systematic review. Cureus14(10), e30091. doi:10.7759/cureus.30091

Gardner, B., Lally, P., & Wardle, J. (2012). Making health habitual: The psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice. British Journal of General Practice, 62(605), 664–666. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X659466

Głąbska, D., Guzek, D., Groele, B., & Gutkowska, K. (2020). Fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in adults: A systematic review. Nutrients12(1), 115. doi:10.3390/nu12010115

Guest, N. S., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Nelson, M. T., Grgic, J., Schoenfeld, B. J., Jenkins, N. D. M., , & Campbell, B. I. (2021). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: Caffeine and exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition18(1), 1. doi:10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4

Hawton, K., Ferriday, D., Rogers, P., Toner, P., Brooks, J., Holly, J., & Hinton, E. (2018). Slow down: Behavioural and physiological effects of reducing eating rate. Nutrients11(1), 50. doi:10.3390/nu11010050

Institute of Medicine & National Research Council. (2013). Individual, household, and environmental factors affecting food choices and access. In J. A. Caswell & A.L. Yaktine (Eds.), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Examining the evidence to define benefit adequacy. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

Kerksick, C. M., Arent, S., Schoenfeld, B. J., Stout, J. R., Campbell, B., Wilborn, C. D., & Antonio, J. (2022). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: Nutrient timing. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14(1). doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0189-4

Kim, J. S., Nam, K., & Chung, S. J. (2019). Effect of nutrient composition in a mixed meal on the postprandial glycemic response in healthy people: a preliminary study. Nutrition Research and Practice13(2), 126–133. doi:10.4162/nrp.2019.13.2.126

Manore, M. M. (2005). Exercise and the Institute of Medicine recommendations for nutrition. Current Sports Medicine Reports.4(4):193–198. doi: 10.1097/01.csmr.0000306206.72186.00

Nelson J. B. (2017). Mindful eating: The art of presence while you eat. Diabetes Spectrum: A publication of the American Diabetes Association30(3), 171–174. doi:10.2337/ds17-0015

Pem, D., & Jeewon, R. (2015). Fruit and vegetable intake: Benefits and progress of nutrition education interventions- narrative review article. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 44(10), 1309–1321.

Riebl, S. K., & Davy, B. M. (2013). The hydration equation: Update on water balance and cognitive performance. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 17(6):21–28. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a9570f

Rodriguez, D., Lavie, C. J., Elagizi, A., & Milani, R. V. (2022). Update on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cardiovascular health. Nutrients, 14(23). doi:10.3390/nu14235146

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fruits. Retrieved 6 August 2024 from https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits

U.S. Department of Agriculture & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025. Washington, DC: Retrieved 10 July 2024 from  https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf

World Health Organization. (2023). Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases. Retrieved 6 August 2024 from https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/fruit-vegetables-ncds