As a trained chef, restaurant owner, healthy-cookbook author, and confirmed food lover, I absolutely refuse to let the word diet hijack my life—and I don't think you should, either. Smart eating is not about settling for less; it's about heaping more good stuff on your plate.

Let's change just one health habit a week—shopping, cooking, and eating to meet that goal—for four weeks? After a month of making basic grains, fruit, and vegetables into staples using my recipes, you'll find it much easier to plan delicious, satisfying meals.

• Try Laura Pensiero's four-week approach to transforming your eating habits!
• Ten of Laura Pensiero's healthy and tasty recipes!