Doesn’t it seem like there are new recommendations for what we should eat coming out every week? Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out another report comes along that says you’re doing it all wrong. Thankfully, there are those occasional reports that say wonderful things like eating chocolate and pasta can actually be good for you. By following these good habits, you might finally make a dieting break through and shed those last stubborn few pounds. It’s worth a try, right? Here are 5 good eating habits to try:

1. Eating the Same Thing Every Day

Ask any fit person what they had for lunch yesterday and its safe bet it’s the same thing they’re going to have today. For these folks, a good eating habit is to eat identical meals. This doesn’t mean the exact same piece of chicken seven days a week. However, you’ll find that they will rotate the exact same proteins, side dishes, snacks and drinks on a regular basis. This all has to do with picking the right foods on a consistent basis and eating the same portions. It certainly takes a lot guesswork out of meal planning.

2. Having a Good Breakfast

Most folks accept that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but when asked what they had for breakfast a majority replies, “Not much.” This good eating habit is all about jump-starting your metabolism to burn calories. That can’t happen unless you have fuel to burn. Thus, the breakfast. Look at it this way: If you stop eating at 8 p.m. and wake up at 8 a.m. then you’ve essentially starved yourself for twelve hours. That can’t be good.

3. Drink More Water

This is one good eating habit that is probably the easiest to do but the one that is most forgotten. Technically, it should be considered a good drinking habit but your get the idea. The moment you experience the sensation of thirst, you’ve become dehydrated. If you can go through the day without ever being thirsty, then you’ll be ahead of the game.

4. Eat Smaller and More Often

Going back to that metabolism theory, many fitness experts support the notion of eating something every three hours. This doesn’t mean sitting down to a buffet but instead snacking on small amounts of good foods like nuts, protein or fruits. Keep it simple: a piece of fruit between breakfast and lunch and a handful of almonds between lunch and dinner and you’re good to go.

5. Go Whole

Those in the know also profess to the power of whole foods as in whole wheat and anything natural like apples, broccoli, brown rice and salad. These are referred to as low-density foods. They fill up your stomach, stop the hunger cravings but aren’t high on the calorie count.

Finally, the best good eating habit could be shutting down the kitchen at an early hour. There should be no food going in after eight in the evening. That way you should go to bed on an empty stomach but not a hungry stomach. How many good eating habits do you embrace?