When it comes to our diet, we’re always trying to be good, but our days can seem like a treacherous walk through lands of temptation and sabotage. Both home and office can be filled with candy bowls and beckoning packages of cookies.

How are we to resist? It’s challenging, but we’ve come up with some tips to help cut sugar from your diet with minimal pain.

Start small

Ease yourself off sugar by gradually reducing the amount you add to coffee, or substituting one cookie with a piece of fruit. Slow and steady… you know the rest.

Munch regularly

It may seem counterintuitive, but when you’re starving you’re more likely to choose sugary comfort food and eat too much of it. Stash packets of nuts around to keep you going before you go into emergency mode.

Hydrate

Water is a great way to take the edge off your appetite. Drink water before you get hungry to stay sane about your food choices.

Get fresh

Processed foods have a nasty habit of sneaking sugars in without you even noticing. Try to eat fresh foods as often as possible.

Labels matter

If you are eating packaged foods, read what’s in them! Look for breads and crackers that have no added sugars.

Sleep on it

The more well-rested you are, the more likely you are to choose wisely when hunger strikes. Treat yourself right with a good night’s sleep to set yourself up for a healthy day.

Be spicy

Add other spices like cinnamon and cumin instead of sugar to make your food flavorful.

Don’t go low (fat)

Does it sometimes feel like the world’s working against you? You’re not crazy, the low-fat food you’re eating to lose weight is often doubled up with sugar. Skip it.

Eat well

Satisfy your appetite with a little bit of foods with good fats like avocado and nuts. These will give you long-lasting energy and feed your brain! Treat yourself right by eating right, not with starvation and indulging.

You’ll get there!