Time to take a major step toward a brand-new you! Let’s clean up the kitchen. I don’t mean sweep the floors or wipe the counters, although those are certainly good things to do. I mean get rid of the junk food that tempts you to eat the wrong things.

You’ve heard the refrain: "Don’t shop for groceries when you’re hungry!" Very true. Anyone who shops while hungry will probably come home with bags full of snack items and other stuff they'd be better off without. Along the same lines: "If it’s not in the house, you’re less likely to eat it!" Few people, no matter how snack-obsessed, will make a run to the store for a particular munchie if there are other options available right there at home.

So here's the plan…

Go through all your food-storage shelves, pantry, fridge, and wherever you keep food. Get rid of all items made with empty calorie ingredients like sugar, white flour, and hydrogenated fats. You don't have to do it all at once. Start with the white flour items like crackers, pancake mixes, and breads. Replace these on your next grocery-shopping trip, with whole-grain crackers, whole wheat or other whole-grain flour, and whole wheat breads. Some things you won't be able to find easily, like whole wheat pancake mix. You can make your own mixes with whole wheat flour, baking powder, etc.

Then take a deep breath and toss out all the items that contain high-fructose corn syrup, and also the ones with sugar as a major ingredient. Gradually replace full-fat cheeses with low-fat ones. Get flavored sugar-free water to replace sodas.

Don't throw away the rejected foods — donate them to your local food pantry. I don't think that anyone should be eating these foods, but changing the world's eating habits will take a long time.

Okay, it’s sometime later…

You have gradually replaced all the unhealthy foods in your home with healthier ones. Your fridge contains whole-grain breads, low-fat cheese, sugar-free drinks, salad fixings, and leaner meats. Your pantry contains extra-virgin olive oil, flavored vinegars, whole-grain crackers, canned beans, maybe some baked chips, and other good things. You have started using whole-grain flour and whole grain pasta. Your freezer may contain grass-fed beef, lots of frozen vegetables, frozen fruit, and, maybe some sugar-free, low-fat ice cream for the occasional splurge.

Now you're all set for some great food and good health to go with it!