To start this all off, I've never been the girl to avoid any and all unhealthy food everywhere I go- I love ice cream and mashed potatoes and basically every food ever. I also NEVER thought I could handle going vegan because that meant no more of so many of my favorite foods. Here I am now though, making some changes to my diet, but still finding ways to stay satisfied and happy with the food I can eat. You can do the same if you put your mind to it, and here's how.

Whether you want to go vegan, vegetarian, or even just eat healthier in general, you need to know WHY you're doing it. Without a reason for making a lifestyle change, you'll start to wonder what the point of all the work you're doing is and start to think it's not worth it. If you have a "why," though, you'll continue to remind yourself of your goal- whether that's to lose few pounds or just to live a healthier, happier lifestyle in general.

Next comes the HOW. When making a lifestyle change rather than simply going on a short-term diet, there are two things you should consider; how attainable are your goals and how sustainable is the lifestyle you want to take on? Attainability means that if you don't have time or means to cook very often, cooking every meal you eat probably shouldn't be one of your goals. Sustainability means that you could keep up the lifestyle you choose for an unlimited amount of time if you wanted to. AKA, a juice cleanse for the rest of your life is not a very sustainable choice.

If you're staring at all the "criteria" I've written and are suddenly starting to think none of the lifestyle changes you hoped to make seem attainable and sustainable, don't you worry; that's where step 3 comes in; change your own mind. I never believed I could give up all animal products without constantly looking for cheat vegan foods to satisfy me, but once I told myself I was going to think of it as a "plant-based" diet rather than a "vegan" diet, things seemed so much easier. there are plenty of ways to see new lifestyles choices as positives if you simply look at things from a different angle.

Last but not least, to make your new eating habits successful and so much easier, get the people you spend time around on your side. Your friends and family will want to support you, but until you fill them in on what changes you're making and why you're making them, grandma's going to keep sending you those delicious and dangerous care packages full of everything you told yourself you'd lay off on.

Whatever choices you make, make them for yourself and remember, it's not just a diet.