I really dislike the idea of dieting. It just sounds like restricting yourself and being unhappy. Instead, I like to think of it as engaging in a healthier lifestyle. In today’s world, there are so many pressures to be skinny—not healthy—that the idea of crazy diets or pills seem like the best way to achieve a “healthier” you. I may not be the fittest girl in the world, in all honesty, I’m a hungry Italian girl who is a huge foodie, so dieting is not even something I can comprehend. Even though I do not diet, I still like to think I am pretty healthy. Here are some small changes you can make in your life to become healthier without giving up on the things you love most, like ice cream and chicken wings (at least those are the things I love most).

1. Drink water. Lots and lots of water!

This is something I’ve been doing since birth it feels like. Apparently, everyone should drink eight cups a day, which is about 64 ounces of water. Drinking water keeps you hydrated and feeling great. It also helps curb hunger. Sometimes when we think our body is hungry, it's really just a bit dehydrated. Try drinking a glass of water when you feel hungry shortly after eating. If drinking this much water seems like a bore, they make cute little water bottles with goal markers for each hour.

2. Spice up your water!

Drinking 64 ounces of water translates to some people as drinking only water during the day, and that can get boring. Make your eight cups more enjoyable by infusing some fruit into it. This can also help add extra vitamins and antioxidants into your diet. My favorite is lemon, lime, cucumber, and a few mint leaves! But, you can add in anything you like; try some orange for citrus or some strawberries and blueberries!

3. Eat less bread!

If you come from a family anything like mine, you probably have bread with every meal. While I could eat an entire loaf of Italian bread or about three bagels, I try to hold back because it’s definitely something that slows you down! Try to monitor your bread intake. The first step of becoming healthier is switching from white bread to whole wheat. Next, try to have bread with only one meal. That means if you have a sandwich for lunch, skip the roll at dinner.

4. Write down what you eat!

This method is really helpful in a great deal of ways. Writing down food can help track any allergies or intolerances you may have. If you notice each time you have dairy you tend to have an upset stomach, maybe that is something you should look into. Additionally, tracking food makes you more aware of what you are putting into your body. In my opinion, high-calorie foods are not always bad food, but you do not want to eat three high-calorie meals all in one day! Tracking your meals helps you see how much or little you consume in a day and can lead to better choices. Tracking my meals helped me realize how much I was lacking in protein. Now, I try to each protein rich foods like spinach, eggs, and nuts. This can also help with the bread intake problem. By tracking your meals you can make sure you are eating a healthy balance of fruits, veggies, starches and proteins.

5. Eat smaller portions!

After tracking some of my food, I realized that I did not want to change all of the food I was eating because those are my favorite. Chicken parm is not debatable, and skipping ice cream in the summer is a sin. So instead, I created my own way to be healthier, by eating smaller portions of the food I love. This does not mean eat less food, just smaller portions of the not-so-healthy food. One rule I typically abide by when eating is half the plate should be veggies, a quarter protein or meat, and a quarter are carbs like pasta or potatoes. Doing this creates smaller portion sizes of the higher calorie items. So I can still have a piece of chicken parm, a bit of spaghetti and some nice Caesar salad!

6. Have a treat day!

One rule we follow in my house is that Sunday is ice cream night. When I was younger, we had ice cream every night and that led to a very chubby adolescent Dannie. So my mom and I decided one night a week is enough to indulge. Having treat days like this makes it easier to get through the week of eating healthy! If you’re worried about this getting too out of hand, you can make sure to eat smaller dips of ice cream and limiting the toppings!

7. Walk instead of drive!

This is a choice that haunted me each morning this semester as I got ready. Did I have enough time to walk to class? Did I have too much to carry, making the car the best option? Being healthier is not something solely depended on by what you eat. Small changes like walking to close destinations or biking when possible can make a great difference! My phone has an app that tracks my steps (while not completely accurate) and it feels great when the notification dings telling me I reach 6,000 steps for the day!

8. Find a workout buddy!

Most of the time, I want to lie on my couch watching the food network and relaxing, but for some reason when my mom puts on her workout clothes and asks me to go to the gym I instantly feel motivated (yes, my mom is my workout buddy). Sometimes all you need is a little extra motivation from someone else to get you in the groove. You could be that extra push for someone else too! Literally just having someone to go with you to the gym, trail, park and pool is all you need. Not necessarily running together or benching the same weight, but having someone to get you to work out is sometimes the best thing you can have to work toward becoming a better and healthier you.

9. Take your Vitamins!

Especially for college students, vitamins can make a large difference in one’s health! I take One a day, vitamin C, and vitamin B 6. Vitamin B 6 helped with this extra bit of tiredness I started to feel once I got to college. It provides energy and helps boost the metabolism! The other vitamins can keep your healthier by fighting off sickness and keeping your immune system on track in those tiny, stuffy dorms.

10. Try some new healthy foods!

I find myself constantly thinking that since I tried a food once and didn’t like it that I would forever hate it. But, my brother got me to try avocado on a sandwich earlier this summer, after I had it in the past in a salad, and I realized it was actually delicious! Sometimes trying new foods will open your world up to a new flavorful experience! This summer I’ve tried to bring in some healthy foods that I typically do not eat. You do not need to change your diet all at once, but try to bring in a new ingredient every once and a while. Some healthy changes I made this summer were adding avocado to wraps, egg sandwiches and burgers; drinking a few glasses of cranberry juice each week; choking down yogurt once a week; and adding tomato whenever I can! I used to dislike each of these, I still am not too fond of yogurt, but trying to add some healthy additions into your weekly meals can make a huge difference in terms of urinary health, digestion, complexion and overall energy!

Try becoming a bit healthier by making a few of these changes, one step at a time! Crash diets do not work, but a healthier lifestyle does. Be patient with yourself and aim to be happier and healthier in life!