How can I build healthy eating habits that actually stick?

Start small rather than overhauling everything at once. Pick one or two specific changes, like adding vegetables to one meal daily or swapping sugary drinks for water, and do those consistently for two to three weeks before adding more. Habits stick when they're attached to existing routines, so link new behaviors to things you already do, like prepping lunch while making morning coffee. Environment matters enormously. Keep healthy foods visible and convenient, and make less healthy options harder to access. Don't rely on willpower alone. Also, avoid the all-or-nothing mindset since one bad meal doesn't ruin progress. Focus on progress over perfection, and give yourself enough repetitions for the behavior to feel automatic, which typically takes four to eight weeks of consistency.