If you feel like you need to make a change in your dietary habits for the better, good for you! You’ve taken the first step toward keeping yourself healthier and building a better lifestyle overall. If you don’t know where to start, not to worry. Here’s how to change your eating habits for the better.

Ditch the Empty Snacks

Naturally, the first thing to do is to eliminate food you eat strictly for entertainment purposes, such as empty-calorie and nutrient-poor treats. The first step to this is easy: stop buying unhealthy snacks. Replace the bags of goodies with things that are good for you, such as fresh fruit, nuts, kale chips, carrot and celery sticks, and low-fat cottage cheese. You can also drink more water instead of buying soda pop, energy drinks, sports drinks, and other sugar-laden beverages.

Next, don’t leave snacks out where they’re easy to reach and mindlessly munch on. Place them higher up and farther away. If you do need a snack, eat it before a physical activity, even if you’re just taking a walk around the block. Keep your workstation a snack-free zone, too.

Watch Your Dining Habits

Three square and nutritious meals can keep you perfectly sated throughout the day, but only if you’re eating healthy and satisfying foods and sticking to your schedule. When you skip meals, you’ll be more tempted to cheat and snack during the day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are your best friends—don’t miss a chance to hang out with them and on time!

When you do dine, mind your intake. Take only one serving of each part of the meal, and don’t leave serving bowls and dishes out, which easily allow the potential for seconds and thirds. Experts advise not noshing while you cook, either. Sample enough, and you’re adding an extra meal on top of the real thing.

Educate Yourself on Your Body’s Upkeep

Here’s a final tip on how to change your eating habits for the better: Don’t just think about your weight. Think about your heart and other organs, too. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, less to no meat, and baked foods rather than fried. Consider exploring Heartsaver certification and other wellness and health courses to learn more about what can help hurt your body along with all the ways you can work to make it better, faster, and stronger.