Ok, time for a little belated spring cleaning to rid yourself of the junk that is weighing you down. This time it isn’t the closet you’ll be tackling, it is your kitchen cabinets, pantry and refrigerator. Not only will you feel a little lighter when you are done – you’ll be on your way to really being a little lighter … and a lot more healthy.

There are so many ways to stay healthy without feeling cheated. Everything is in your mind. If you want your family to eat less – downsize your dinner plates and smaller portions won’t look so small. This is a tried and true trick that works. Pay close attention to food presentation – food that looks good will be more satisfying.

1. Decide to do it and get your family on board.

Go about it like you would any other family project. Talk to all of the members in the family. Don’t assume that they will be against you (but don’t expect it to be a breeze either). Tell them why you want the family to adopt a healthier lifestyle and ask them to list which foods they love … and which do they like but can live without. Let them know that you aren’t trying to cut out all of the junk food, but that it has taken over the house and you need to get it under control.

Armed with a list of family favorites, look to see if there is a common theme. For instance – I love chocolate. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that life without chocolate is just not worth living. One of my sons could care less about chocolate – he goes more for the salty things – chips, pretzels, etc. My daughter likes candy like Skittles, Starbursts, etc. We all like ice cream. Now, instead of eliminating these items from your diet, take a good look to see if you can find a healthier way to enjoy them.

Don’t force an item just because it has less fat or calories – what you eat has to taste good or this will be short-lived. So if your family has tried fat free salad-dressing and hates it, find somewhere else to cut fat and calories, and get your family in the habit of cutting down on the serving size. Experiment until you find staple foods that work for you. Be aware that many times you will eat more of a fat or low-calorie version than you would have eaten of the regular item.

2. Don’t avoid your cravings – feed them.

For me, I found even though I prefer milk chocolate, dark chocolate will satisfy my chocolate craving, and dark chocolate gets a bit bitter after a few pieces so I tend not to overeat it. Also, because it is still a treat, I don’t feel like I am giving anything up or missing out. I lost a lot of weight eating Dove dark chocolate. Light buttered popcorn and pretzels with the occasional treat to a bag of Doritos works for my son. Mixes also help; try throwing some Doritos in with popcorn. The taste will be there but the calories will be cut. And for my daughter … a lollypop lasts longer than a bag of Skittles – in fact, it is usually in the garbage before it is done.

3. Don’t assume cravings are only about taste.

You will have to satisfy craving for substance and texture as well. Make sure you have things in your house that are chewy, crunch, and that melt in your mouth. Start getting in the habit of asking yourself – what craving am I really trying to cure when I want something to eat? A bagel isn’t going to do it if what you really crave is something that will melt in your mouth. Ice cream won’t do it if what you need is sweet and crunchy. If you crave ice cream, will that 160 calorie ice cream bar cure it just as well as that 300 calories sundae cone? The idea is instead of trying to ignore your craving, give it what it really is asking for and do it in the healthiest way possible. Now, write down alternatives next to each item on your family’s list.

4. Get rid of the junk food cluttering your kitchen.

If it is there, you and your family will eat it. How can you expect your child to choose that apple or banana over a handful of their favorite chips? How can you expect yourself to do it? Pull all that junk food out of the cabinet and put it on the table. Allow yourself to choose one or two items to put back in the cabinet. You can’t expect to last long if you go completely cold turkey, not to mention if you feel like you are being deprived of your favorite guilty pleasure – you will only want it more. Feeling guilty about throwing it away? Invite your kids’ friends over – if you have teens, it won’t last long.

5. Let’s go shopping and don’t forget your list.

Bring your list and try and make sure that when you re-stock, you will be able to meet every craving that will come up. Allow yourself a few guilty pleasures but don’t buy in quantity or your family will eat in quantity. Make sure you have foods on hand for hungry days – you know those days where you feel like you are a bottomless pit. I found a hash brown skillet (made without the oil and minus the egg, meat and cheese) is heavy enough to satisfy hungry days. Whatever you do, don’t bring your children shopping with you! If you do the math, paying a sitter for an hour will be much cheaper than what they will cost you at the store.

6. Take the time to be prepared.

Try to take time in the morning to think ahead of what your family will eat for meals and what to make available for snacks. If you have to cut up that watermelon and cantaloupe when you get hungry, chances are you are going to reach for something else – even if watermelon and cantaloupe sound good. Also, keep “eating out” for special occasions rather than necessity. This is probably one of the hardest things for the Modern Mom who is expected to get her child from one place to another with no time for travel, much less for dinner. Do things like prepare ahead and freeze ground beef and chicken to add into dishes or for tacos.