Healthy Foods: Behavior Change Analysis

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Table of Contents

The choice to eat healthy foods
Short and long-term goals
The need to eliminate unhealthy foods
My attempts to improve my diet
The steps that a person can take in order to eat healthier
The barriers to eating healthier
Setbacks and successes
Examples of good support systems
Reference List

The choice to eat healthy foods

The choice to eat healthy foods is very important for a person because it implies that an individual already understands that his/her diet is not appropriate. This choice can be based on subjective experiences, observations, or even the analysis of empirical data. Furthermore, this understanding creates an intention to take a certain action and change ones lifestyle, in particular eating habits (Hieger, 2009, p. 42). The person, who has made this decision, is more likely to reduce the consumption of foods or drinks that produce harmful effects on health because this individual can better control behavior (Hieger, 2009, p. 42). So, this attitude is vital for every form of behavior change, including the change in eating habits. This is one of the first steps to adopting a healthy lifestyle. This is one of the main issues that can be identified.

Short and long-term goals

There are several objectives that a person can set while changing his/her eating habits. At first, one should focus on short-term goals such as the reduction in the consumption of food that contains large quantities of sugar, fat, or salt. For instance, a person can stop buying fast foods, snacks, carbonated drinks, gum, or candy bars. Moreover, this person can increase his/her daily intake of vitamins and nutrients by eating more vegetables and fruits. In turn, one should speak about long-term goals such as following a balanced diet which includes only those meals that contain necessary amounts of vitamins, proteins, or minerals. These objectives are important because they can help a person evaluate his/her progress. Moreover, they motivate an individual to improve his/her lifestyle and diet. Therefore, while changing ones eating habits, a person should identify the goals that he/she wants to attain.

The need to eliminate unhealthy foods

There are several reasons why a person should eliminate unhealthy foods from his/her diet. First of all, many of them lead to overweight and even obesity. In the long term, it can result in various disorders like diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This is one of the first issues that should be considered. Additionally, researchers have found out that many unhealthy foods have an addictive effect on a person. This argument is particularly important if one speaks about the foods that are rich in fat or sugar (Smith, 2011, p. 3). In other words, a person becomes so accustomed to these foods that other meals are no longer acceptable for him/her. This is another risk that should not be overlooked. Finally, it is vital to remember that the effects of eating unhealthy foods can manifest themselves only in the long term. This is why one should pay more attention to his/her diet.

My attempts to improve my diet

In the past, I did try to improve my diet. In particular, I attempted to reduce my consumption of various snack foods, sweet desserts, or candies. I understood that this eating habit could easily give rise to overweight. This is why I tried to eliminate this food from my diet, especially in the mornings. As a rule, I bought these products because I did not have enough time to have healthy meals. To a great extent, my attempts were quite successful, because currently I practically do not eat these foods. Nevertheless, I have to admit that my diet is not well-balanced, and it can contain some foods that are rich in sugar or fat but have little nutritional value. This is one of the main issues that should be addressed.

The steps that a person can take in order to eat healthier

There are several steps that people can take in order to increase their intake of healthy foods. First of all, they should pay more attention to time management. In many cases, they consume a snack or fast food because they are pressed for time. Therefore, if they spend fifteen more minutes on their meals, they will have more opportunities for eating healthy food that includes necessary vitamins and nutrients. Furthermore, an individual should learn more about the nutritional value of different food products. This step is also critical because a person should be able to make informed decisions when selecting different meals or foods. Apart from that, one should also identify short and long-term objectives that can be achieved. Such an approach can help a person make a change in his/her eating habits.

The barriers to eating healthier

There are several obstacles that can prevent a person from eating healthy foods. In particular, one can mention the shortage of time. This is the main reason why many individuals prefer to purchase fast-food products or snacks; as a rule, they understand that this is not the best choice, but they cannot change their behavior. Furthermore, healthier foods can be more expensive, and some people may not afford them. This argument is relevant to a person with a low income-level. Additionally, it is important to mention that there are people, who may not have sufficient access to information, and they may find it difficult to develop a balanced diet. This problem is normally encountered by low-income people. These people are less likely to eat unhealthy food. These are the main barriers that should be considered. Some of these obstacles can be overcome, for instance, one can speak about the shortage of time.

Setbacks and successes

As it has been said before, I have made some attempts to change my eating diet and eat only healthy food. To some extent, I did achieve some successes. In particular, I have been able to reduce the consumption of those products that are rich in fat or sugar. I was able to achieve this goal with the help of proper time management techniques. Nevertheless, there are some important setbacks that should be taken into account. In particular, at the time of nervous tension, I may resume eating unhealthy foods. Furthermore, I could not work out a diet that corresponds to my age and weight. Yet, it seems to me that these problems can be managed.

Examples of good support systems

As a rule, support systems play an important role in behavior change. One can provide several examples of good support systems. For instance, it is possible to speak about friends or relatives who encourage a person to eat fruits and vegetables. These people usually provide emotional and mental support to a person who wants to make a behavior change. Moreover, the role of support systems can be played by medical workers who help an individual make informed food choices. These people can assist a person in choosing the most appropriate meals. To a great extent, the presence of support systems can facilitate behavior change. They are critical for adopting a healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits. This is one of the main arguments that can be put forward.

Reference List

Hieger, H. (2009). Behavior Change: A View from the Inside Out. New York: Wordclay.

Smith, A. (2011). Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat. New York: ABC-CLIO.

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