Are you thinking of adding more variety to your diet? Here’s a collection of tips from Healthline’s editorial team to help you to create the perfect balanced diet to meet your individual needs.

These strategies demonstrate that a balanced diet might look slightly different for everyone! They may inspire you to take the first step toward increasing your daily nutrition.

CONSIDER BATCH-COOKING

“I recommend batch-cooking whenever you can, so you can freeze leftovers and eat them on a day when you don’t want to cook. It helps save both time and money.” — Amy

BE MINDFUL WHEN GROCERY SHOPPING

“How you shop really shapes things! I try to pick just one treat and splurge on things like premade salad kits, premarinated proteins, etc. I’m less likely to stray the course this way.” — Sarah

CONSIDER YOUR DIETARY NEEDS

“Over the past year I’ve been trying to identify foods that trigger my IBS flares. I took a “bottom-up” approach, starting with breakfast and moving slowly through the day to see when symptoms kick in. I still experience flare-ups, but they’re far less frequent than before.” — Alex

PRIORITIZE NUTRIENT-RICH GREENS

“I buy fresh kale, Swiss chard, spinach or similar every time I go to the grocery store— like literally every store visit—and just constantly prep it in the fridge and eat a lot of leafy greens everyday, raw or cooked. I love amazing, tasty food all the time, still, but a big portion of my daily diet is nutrient-rich, fiber-packed greens. Popeye will be so proud of you!” — Justin

INCORPORATE HEALTHY SNACKS

“My favorite snack at the moment is Jell-O mixed with zero-fat Greek yogurt! One sachet of zero-sugar strawberry Jell-O mixed with 250 ml of boiling water, mixed until the Jell-O dissolves. Then, add 250 g of zero-fat Greek yogurt and mix until everything is combined. Divide the mixture into two containers and leave in the fridge for a few hours until set.

It’s low effort, slightly indulgent, and has more volume than yogurts or mousses of equivalent calories.” — Ronnie

PLAN YOUR LEFTOVERS

“I only plan three days of meals, then either eat leftovers or do something else the other 4 days of the week. Tips for when you don’t want to cook (a big one for me): make extras when you do feel like cooking and freeze it; keep salad staples on hand like spinach, nuts and seeds, dried fruit, cucumbers, and chopped bell peppers; buy precut vegetables; make a smoothie; throw things in the instant pot.” — Ren

START WITH SMALL SUBSTITUTIONS

“Focusing on small, healthy substitutions makes it easier for me to maintain changes in the long term. For example, replacing mayonnaise or sour cream with low fat Greek yoghurt, or eating dried fruit as a crunchy snack instead of chips.” — Meg

For many of our editors, planning ahead is vital to increasing the nutritional value in their diet. Whether this happens in the grocery store or during meal planning is up to you!

Creating a healthy, balanced diet can feel daunting, but change doesn’t have to happen overnight. The best methods for a balanced diet are ones you can commit to in the long term, not ones that you want to give up after a couple of days!

Below are some more practical tips to help you change up your diet:

Here are some quick, easy ways to move toward a more balanced diet:

  • Start with small changes: Instead of upheaving your entire diet, include one or two balanced meals a week, and increase this over time.
  • Focus on substitutions: Replace ultra-processed foods with healthier choices.
  • Think about drinks: When adjusting our diet, many of us don’t think about what we’re drinking. Replacing sugary sodas with water is an easy first step to a healthier diet.
  • Get creative: It’s a great opportunity to try foods and recipes from different cultures. Try out one new recipe a week to see what flavors you might prefer!