5 Things to Ask Yourself Before Starting a New Diet

Written By: Mairead, Registered DietitianMost people get really excited and motivated when they hear about a new diet. Maybe this will be the one that helps you reach your goals and be your healthiest self! But for any nutrition changes to actually help us, we need to be able to keep them up long term. If you’re thinking of jumping in to a new diet soon, ask yourself these questions to make sure it’s the right fit for you!

1. What is my actual goal? What outcome am I aiming for with this new diet or nutrition change? There’s no wrong answer here, but it’s important to make sure that the outcomes expected with this diet actually match what you’re looking for. For example, there are many diets for specific medical conditions, but they might not be appropriate for you in managing a different condition. Also remember that not all weight loss is healthy and not all diets that cause weight loss promote overall health.

2. How different is this diet from how I eat now? The more different the diet is from your current eating habits, the harder it usually is to make the leap and keep it up for very long. If the diet your aiming for is the complete opposite of what you’re eating right now, including some aspects might be the smoothest way to ease yourself in over time.

3. What will it cost? Some diet changes are more expensive than others (especially right now!). Think about whether your new diet will require buying special foods or different foods than you currently eat. While there are many ways to make healthy eating less expensive, make sure your plans fit within your grocery budget!

4. Who do I eat with? If you live alone and cook most meals for yourself, any diet changes you make aren’t likely to have an impact on anyone else. If you eat with anyone else, it’s worth thinking about how you will make that work. Are the people you eat with willing to eat according to your new diet at shared meals? Are you prepared to make two separate meals if they don’t? If you’re not the main cook, are you going to have to make yourself something different or is everyone on the same page? If you have kids, is there any impact that your new diet could have on them?

5. What will I have to give up? Some diets and nutrition changes are more restrictive than others. If your new diet is on the more restrictive side, is there anything you have to give up that will make it too hard to maintain long-term? Can you still do family pizza night in some way? Are you able to go out for dinner once in a while? Can you still celebrate special occasions in a way that won’t make you feel overly restricted?

There’s no wrong answers to any of these questions – it’s all about what matters to you, and how any changes will fit into your real life. Instead of diving into drastic changes or a new diet head-first, take a little bit of time to think through any potential roadblocks and set yourself up for success.

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