Do you want to make the switch to a whole food and clean eating lifestyle and stick with it for good? This series is for you.

This is Part Three in the How to Become a Whole Food for Life series.

Other posts in this series:
Part One: Make Small Changes
Part Two: Slowly Replace Foods in the Fridge and Pantry

Keep an eye for Part Four next Tuesday.

Part Three: Make Healthy Versions of the Foods You Eat

The best way to get started in whole foods is to healthify (what an awesome word) recipes and meals you already love and are familiar with.

Don’t start by making recipes with completely foreign ingredients and tastes than what your used to. You might get lucky and love what you make, but chances are you will make some recipes you really don’t like and be disappointed and disillusioned with eating healthy.

When I went vegetarian, I tried all different kinds of recipes with different ingredients than I was used to. I’d never eaten an eggplant before, so why choose now to try it? Turns out eggplant isn’t a great food to try when your starting out veggo. So I wasted a few hours putting together a meal I hated, and that re-enforced my family’s belief that being vegetarian was ‘too hard’ and ‘weird’. They are now eating their words (literally!) because they love my cooking now.

I spent about 6 months trying recipes and being totally disappointed! Finally I started finding recipes I loved, but I wish I had followed this advice when I started.

As you go, you will get more creative and open minded about ingredients and food, and so will those around you. You will probably start liking foods you never liked before. I hated pineapple with a passion for the first 22 years of my life – turns out I actually love it now! Be willing to eventually re-try foods you think you hate.

Be kind to yourself and allow time to adjust.

Meanwhile, dip your toes by healthifying meals you eat right now. Check out part one for some simple swaps you can make right now.

Try a healthy version of spagetti with a mix of veggies instead of mince. Or perhaps tacos with refried beans instead of mince or chicken.

What are your go to meals you make on a weekly or fortnightly basis and how can you make them healthier today?

Remember, small wins will help you stay on track and stay motivated.

What’s your favourite meal that you healthified? Drop a comment below!