5 Small Changes That Make a Big Impact on Your Health

Our Test Kitchen team has launched a Wellness Camp at Williams-Sonoma headquarters dedicated to improving employees’ overall sense of well-being. All month, we’ll be sharing some of their favorite tips. Follow along with us on the blog and on Instagram at @williamssonoma and with the hashtag #wswellness.

When it comes to healthy eating, little things can mean a lot. Our test kitchen says that making a series of small changes is one easy way to enjoy big results.

We asked the cooks in the Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen to share their favorite secrets for maximum health and wellness with minimal effort. Read on to discover how five simple changes can help you achieve a feel-good lifestyle.

1. Drink Water Instead Here’s one crazy-easy, cost-free change anyone can make: Simply choose water over other beverages that typically have hidden sugars and calories. If you’re really craving a sweeter beverage, try diluting some fruit juice with sparkling or still water.

2. Prep Ahead for the Week On the weekend, get a head start on tasks like rinsing and prepping your greens and veggies, cooking off grains or beans, making a vinaigrette or caramelizing onions. Weeknight favorites like salads, omelets, frittatas or veggie tacos come together quickly when a lot of the legwork has already been done. Not only are you doing yourself a favor by cooking at home, but your future self will thank you!

3. A Little Bit of Cheese (to Go a Long Way) Use just a little bit of cheese to finish soups, salads, tacos and other dishes. Select harder cheeses that pack a lot of punch and flavor without fat, like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano or aged gouda. Another great option is to opt for softer cheeses, like goat cheese or sheep’s milk feta, where a little goes a long way.

4. (Good) Fat is Your Friend Fat adds flavor and helps keep you satiated, so you won’t be grabbing for a snack about 30 minutes after your meal. Go for anti-inflammatory fats, like mono-unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, by doing small things like adding avocado to sandwiches and extra-virgin olive oil to salads.

5. Omit One Thing The test kitchen suggests picking one vice to omit from your diet for a particular day of the week. Think meatless Mondays, going dairy-free on Wednesdays, no processed foods on Thursday—you get the idea.

Tell us: What feel-better changes are you implementing this year?