Healthful eating is vital to feeling your best. In your quest for a complete dietary overhaul, you can take the first steps by tweaking simple habits.

• Liquid exchange: Some beverages not only have excess sugar, artificial ingredients, and caffeine, they can interfere with proper hydration — necessary for maintaining body temperature and delivering nutrients to your cells. Swap out that mid-morning mocha with an 8-ounce glass of ice water to load up on your body’s fluid of choice. And when thirst strikes again, sip from the water cooler, not the soda fountain.

• Portion downsizing: Research suggests Americans eat more food than they need. Take a good look at your meals today to carve the rations. Slice your sandwich in half and save the rest for tomorrow. Use a small dinner plate. Scoop just a single spoonful of potatoes, pasta, or rice. Wait 20 minutes, to see if you’re really still hungry, before getting seconds. And check out the Weight-control Information Network to learn how to eyeball serving sizes.

• Selective snacking: Choose nutrient-dense foods to curb hunger and add health benefits. Ditch the bag of chips for a handful of nuts. Go green — a cup of broccoli or spinach salad. Reach for an apple or whole wheat crackers and low-fat cheese when you feel hunger pangs, or toss a few berries into low-fat yogurt.