Θέλω να τρώω λιγότερα γλυκά, για να μην πάρω κιλά.

In Modern Greek, after θέλω when you mean I want to do something, you normally use να + verb.

So:

• θέλω να τρώω = I want to eat / I want to be eating
• not θέλω τρώω

The word να introduces the dependent verb, similar to how English uses to in I want to eat.

A very common pattern is:

• Θέλω να πάω. = I want to go.
• Θέλω να μάθω ελληνικά. = I want to learn Greek.

This is an aspect choice.

Greek often distinguishes between:

• imperfective: ongoing, repeated, habitual action
• perfective: one complete action

Here:

• τρώω = imperfective, to eat in a general/habitual sense
• φάω = perfective, to eat as a single completed act

So:

• Θέλω να τρώω λιγότερα γλυκά means I want to eat fewer sweets in general, as a habit or lifestyle.
• Θέλω να φάω λιγότερα γλυκά would sound more like I want to eat fewer sweets on a particular occasion / as a bounded action.

Because the sentence is about a general goal or habit, τρώω is the natural choice.

Again, this is about aspect.

• παίρνω = imperfective
• πάρω = perfective

In για να μην πάρω κιλά, the speaker means so that I don’t gain weight / put on kilos, focusing on the result. That is why Greek usually uses the perfective form πάρω.

So:

• για να μην πάρω κιλά = so that I don’t gain weight

This is very common in purpose clauses: the perfective often appears when the focus is on preventing or achieving a result.

για να means so that, in order to.

It introduces a purpose:

• Θέλω να τρώω λιγότερα γλυκά, για να μην πάρω κιλά.
• I want to eat fewer sweets, so that I don’t gain weight.

You will see για να very often in Greek:

• Διαβάζω για να περάσω τις εξετάσεις. = I study in order to pass the exams.
• Πήγα νωρίς για να τον δω. = I went early so that I could see him.

Greek uses μη(ν), not δεν, in certain subordinate structures, especially after words like να and για να.

So:

• δεν παίρνω κιλά = I am not gaining weight
• για να μην πάρω κιλά = so that I don’t gain weight

A useful rule:

• δεν is used for ordinary statement negation
• μη(ν) is used with να, ας, imperatives, and similar structures

Examples:

• Δεν τρώω γλυκά. = I don’t eat sweets.
• Θέλω να μην αργήσω. = I want not to be late.
• Για να μην αργήσω, φεύγω τώρα. = So that I won’t be late, I’m leaving now.

λιγότερα means fewer / less here.

It agrees with γλυκά, which is neuter plural, so it also has to be neuter plural.

Basic forms:

• λιγότερος = masculine
• λιγότερη = feminine
• λιγότερο = neuter singular
• λιγότεροι / λιγότερες / λιγότερα = plural forms

Since γλυκά is neuter plural, Greek uses:

• λιγότερα γλυκά

Compare:

• λιγότερος καφές = less coffee
• λιγότερη ζάχαρη = less sugar
• λιγότερα γλυκά = fewer sweets

In English, less and fewer are distinguished more strictly; in Greek, λιγότερο/λιγότερα covers this general idea of smaller quantity/number.

Yes. γλυκός / γλυκιά / γλυκό is originally an adjective meaning sweet.

But the neuter form γλυκό is also used as a noun meaning:

• sweet
• dessert
• pastry / treat depending on context

So:

• το γλυκό = the dessert / the sweet
• τα γλυκά = sweets / desserts

This is very common in Greek: an adjective can become a noun, especially in the neuter.

In this sentence, γλυκά is clearly a noun, not just an adjective.

Greek often omits the article when speaking in a general, indefinite way.

So:

• τρώω λιγότερα γλυκά = I eat fewer sweets
• πάρω κιλά = gain kilos / put on weight

This is similar to English, where you also usually would not say the sweets or the kilos in this context.

If you added the article, the meaning would become more specific:

• τα γλυκά = the sweets / desserts
• τα κιλά = the kilos, or specific excess weight in some contexts

Without the article, the meaning stays general.

Literally, it means I take kilos, because παίρνω basically means take / get.

But idiomatically, παίρνω κιλά means:

• to gain weight
• to put on weight

This is a very common Greek expression.

Related examples:

• Πήρα δύο κιλά. = I gained two kilos.
• Δεν θέλω να πάρω κιλά. = I don’t want to gain weight.

So you should understand παίρνω κιλά as a fixed everyday expression, not word-for-word.

Yes.

• το κιλό = the kilo / kilogram
• τα κιλά = the kilos / kilograms

In everyday speech, κιλά is very common when talking about body weight:

• έχασα κιλά = I lost weight
• πήρα κιλά = I gained weight

Even when English might simply say weight, Greek often uses kilos.

Because Greek usually does not need subject pronouns unless there is emphasis or contrast.

The verb ending already shows the subject:

• θέλω = I want
• τρώω = I eat
• πάρω = I gain / take

So Θέλω να τρώω... already clearly means I want to eat...

You would add εγώ only if you wanted emphasis, for example:

• Εγώ θέλω να τρώω λιγότερα γλυκά. = I want to eat fewer sweets.

The comma separates the main idea from the purpose clause:

• main clause: Θέλω να τρώω λιγότερα γλυκά
• purpose clause: για να μην πάρω κιλά

In Greek, punctuation with clauses like this is often a bit more flexible than learners expect, but this comma is very natural and helps readability.

So it is functioning much like in English:

• I want to eat fewer sweets, so that I don’t gain weight.

Yes, that is possible in everyday Greek.

Two common ways to express fewer / less are:

• λιγότερα γλυκά
• πιο λίγα γλυκά

Both are understandable and natural.
However, λιγότερα γλυκά is often the cleaner and more standard phrasing in this sentence.

You may hear both in real life.

It mainly expresses a general intention or habit change.

Because of τρώω (imperfective), the sentence suggests:

• I want to eat fewer sweets in general
• I want this to be my habit/lifestyle

If the speaker were talking about one specific occasion, Greek might choose different wording or a different aspect.

So this sentence is best understood as a general health-related goal.