You know you’re not the only one if you’ve been trying to stick to a healthy diet. If you haven’t developed the habits for healthy eating early on, it’s a tough ride especially if your palette often puts taste over health. And if you’re on the other side of the fence, trying to help a close friend or family member get on the healthy food wagon, here’s a list of some of the most common challenges that anyone trying to shift to a healthy diet faces...

I hate salads!

Eating salads is not the biggest priority in many South Asian homes. For many, the very word itself conjures images of insipid leaves and flavourless veggies. Changing perceptions takes a while and you can’t blame anyone for not taking a shine to salads right away.

If you’re looking for great salad ideas, check out a desi take on traditional salads that are comfortable and familiar to the palate before moving on to more experimental creations.

Portion distortion

Not many people know the real portion size of food that they should be eating. You may think that eating till you’re full is the point when you should stop. But research has consistently shown that every food group has acceptable portion sizes that a person should eat.

If you’ve not comfortable with using weight scales and other measurements, there are many websites that offer guidelines on approximate food portions like the Heart and Stroke Foundation website, for instance. There are even tips on splitting your dinner plate into quarters that can be used as a guide to your eating habits.

VFM? Toss it a side!

Every time you’re in line at the food court or at a fast food restaurant, do not get duped into “super sizing” your meal, unless you really want that huge, big meal and haven’t eaten for days! While you may get a bigger portion of food, with a free drink thrown in or extra cookies or other sugar-laden snacks for a better price perhaps, your body won’t thank you for it. It’s easy to fall for these “value for money” meal plans that only serve to make your healthy diet even tougher to stick to.

Aargh! Boiled food? Really??

For some bizarre reason, many people think of healthy eating and diets as “boiled food.” Well, it’s time for a reality check! Healthy eating means broiling, grilling, stir-frying and even baking all kinds of food. A healthy lifestyle goes well beyond just boiled food. And fyi, boiled food can be made flavourful with smart seasoning and a little drizzle of a great dressing!

I’m still hungry

The biggest challenge being on a diet is fighting the feeling of not being full. If you’re used to big meals, polished off with a sinful desert, eating smaller portions and swapping desert for fruit can be challenging. Many people recommend drinking more water, or natural-flavoured juices and teas to feel full. Health experts also suggest having smaller meals at more frequent intervals so that the body doesn’t crave food and you avoid a food binge.