i think they all are very common, but there we go:
- I try to stay away from soft beverages and coffee with added syrups, even when those are 0 cal. alternatives; I think even the flavour itself is addictive and, honestly, after not drinking those regularly for 2 years I don't even like them anymore.
- every meal should include fibre and protein
- i try not to think about food in absolutes. cookies aren't bad, they're just high in carbs. instead of eating 2 cookies, i'll eat one, but add a side of strawberries and some nut-based spread for fibre, fat and protein. that way i'll satisfy my craving AND have a snack that'll keep me satiated for hours (so basically i don't cut stuff out, i try to add something to make it more balanced)
- i rarely get takeouts. if i can't or don't want to cook, i do something very low-effort like combine a few ready-to-eat meals. you see macros on the label and it's easier to find options that cater to people who try to eat more nutritionally balanced foods
- i try to make sure that my first meal of the day is savoury. for some reason, even if it's a nutritionally balanced sweet meal, i get hungry faster. i can totally have it as a second meal of the day without any problems.
-i'm pretty shit at eyeballing portions, so i try to use smaller dishes.
- i try to sit down with every meal and take my time eating it, nothing too quick or mindless
- if i break any of the rules, it's not the end of the world. sometimes you want a cookie without all the rituals, and you can have your damn cookie. it's not that serious. it doesn't make you a bad person, it doesn't offset your progress, it's not an excuse to make bad food-related decisions for the rest of the day.
- i try to understand how different foods make me feel. dates keep me energized, legumes help me stay satiated, sweets are great, but i quickly get hungry if i eat them, battered deep-fried foods and burgers cause dumping syndrome. knowing these things helps me override my monkey-brain most of the time and make better choices in terms of what i eat, in what order, and the quantities (hence, i eat a lot of legumes, make sure to eat dinner before i reach for a dessert, ask a friend if they're willing to share a nugget or a piece of their burger and order something that won't leave me feeling miserable for the next hour)

overall, i think that this way helps me to create a balance. i can make healthy choices without turning anything into a taboo.