When you need this
People change small food habits all the time: less coffee, no soda, more water, lunch from home instead of the food court. Their reasons are their own. It might be sleep, money, taste, or a doctor's suggestion, and you don't need to ask. What you do need is the language to talk about the change when it comes up.
This is phrasal verb country. "Cut back on" and "cut down on" mean eat or drink less of something. "Cut out" means stop completely. "Give up" is stop completely too, and it often sounds like it took some effort. "Switch to" is replacing one thing with another. "Stick to" is keeping going with a plan.
The present perfect is the natural tense, because a habit change started in the past and is still true now: "I've cut back on sugar," "I haven't had soda in a month."
Phrases
have less of something
the same as "cut back on"; both are common
stop having something completely
stop something, often after trying for a while
replace one habit with a different one
a habit you're adding
present perfect continuous: a new routine
a habit you're working on
keeping the new habit is difficult
you follow the plan loosely
you allow a favorite food sometimes
casual: you stopped following your plan
present perfect with a length of time
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Practice · 3 min
Say the change. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.