EAGAN, Minn. — When Rashod Hill set up his offseason plan after the 2017 season, he incorporated his usual workouts along with plenty of film review.

The Vikings offensive tackle also drastically changed his diet.

"For me changing, it was eating. Being from the South, I ate a lot of fried foods. I like a lot of fried foods," said Hill, who hails from Florida and attended college at Southern Mississippi. "I learned that what you put in your body is what you're going to get out, so putting the right stuff in your body is going to help you in the long run.

"Just changing some eating habits and leaving fried food alone and having one cheat day," Hill added. "It helped me out a lot. I'm seeing results so I'm trying to stick to it."

Hill said the biggest culprit in his diet was fried chicken, and that he now grills or bakes his food rather than consuming greasy fast food.

"Fried chicken … I love it, man. My cheat day will be Cane's. Raising Cane's, oh my god," Hill said with a laugh. "I had to leave that fried food alone. And I had to leave Benihana alone. That oil and rice and that YumYum sauce."

Hill now is on a strict diet with a single cheat day. His routine includes healthier foods, but also subtle changes such as drinking more water and eating earlier in the night.

"I cut it off after 7:30 at night. I don't eat after 7:30," Hill said. "If I eat after 7:30 it's a small little fruit snack and a rice cake.

"And I started leaving teas alone because tea has a lot if sugar in it," Hill added.

The past few months have helped Hill get down to a shade above 310 pounds, a number he is satisfied with.

"When I came out with Jacksonville, I was 300," said Hill, who joined the Vikings from the Jaguars practice squad in November of 2016. "But you can't play tackle at 300 in this league, man. You just can't. It's more 313-315."

Hill said one of his offseason priorities — which was aided by the diet change — was to become more nimble and athletic.

"Me and my agent had a long talk," Hill said. "I wanted to get down in weight and move a lot better and show them that I can move and contribute to the team more than I did last year.

"I took it to heart and lost some weight," Hill later added. "The crazy thing about is that I'm not even tired. I can't complain about it. It's been working out for me and I'm going to stick with it."

Hill hopes his transformation helps him be able to carve out a starting spot on Minnesota's offensive line in 2018.

The 26-year-old started nine total games this past season, including both playoffs contests. He was at right tackle for eight of those contests, the same spot he lined up at during spring practices with the first-team offense.

With Joe Berger heading off into retirement and Mike Remmers potentially shifting inside to guard, the starting right tackle gig could be Hill's to claim with a strong showing in training camp and the preseason.

"Just come out and compete every day. My personal expectation is to not make the same mistake twice," Hill said. "I'm trying to get better at one thing each day. Just stay consistent.

"I don't want to fluctuate up and down, I want to be consistent on and off the field," Hill added. "I'm working on trying to get better each day and perfecting my craft each day. When you get tired, your technique goes out the door. I'm trying to stay fundamental in my technique."