Not everyone is ready to overhaul their diet. You can however, always make small changes slowly and be on your way to living a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few tips and substitutions that you can make on a regular basis that will really do add up overtime.

1. Wholegrains are widely known for their health benefits including decreased risk of obesity, heart disease, certain cancers and the list goes on. When buying bread from the supermarket for example you need to look for “100% whole wheat” or “100% wholegrain”. Consumers sometimes purchase bread that reads, “100% wheat” thinking that they are buying healthy, wholegrain bread when in fact they are most likely purchasing bread made with enriched flour.

2. An easy way to cut down on fat at your meals is to use ground turkey breast or ground chicken breast in some of your recipes. Lean ground turkey and lean ground chicken is not the same thing as ground turkey breast or ground chicken breast. It has higher fat and higher calorie content.

3. Not all dried fruits are created equal. It is important to read the ingredient labels. There are brands which actually add sugar to their product. Dried fruit is already naturally very sweet so you won’t even notice the difference. By spending an extra minute or two at the grocery store reading the ingredient label you could be saving yourself from eating unwanted sugar and extra calories.

4. Condiments such as barbeque sauce and ketchup are loaded with sugar. Try flavoring food instead with mustard, no sugar added ketchup, salsa, herbs and seasonings. You can still make delicious meals and this is an easy way to lower calories and carbohydrate consumption at meals.

5. Oats are a great way to start the day. They are high in fiber, may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and may help to lower cholesterol. They are also a great alternative to flavored instant oats and granola in the morning.

By consistently choosing healthier options you can make progress towards your goals. Small substitutions such as these in your diet really do add up in the long run.

(Written by: Heather Marr, Celebrity and model trainer and co-creator of The Model Trainer Method

Instagram link: @modeltrainermarr