Easy, Tasty, Diet Tips Anyone Can Use

The Truth: In order to lose weight you need to create a calorie deficit. This is achieved either by consuming fewer calories or exercising to wear off more calories or a combination of both. Let’s  keep it simple…every bite  counts.  I’ve added these additional tweaks to my eating plan and have lost about 13 pounds in the past few months. Woo Hoo!

 Eat one apple before every meal to your meal consumption by about 30%. How easy is that!  Now is a great time to get a good variety of delicious apples to eat before meals and as a snack in between meals. Crunching an apple will give you time to think about what you will eat. You won’t be famished and charging in to the kitchen to devour anything in your path. They are only about 80 calories with 5 grams of fiber making apples a delicious, smart snack for someone wanting to lose weight.

Stock up on healthy frozen meals. When choosing a frozen meal aim for the highest fiber and protein content and the lowest calories. Fiber fills you up and protein keeps you full. Frozen meals are quick and easy to throw into the microwave or take along for a work lunch.

Or make your own healthy frozen meals. Invest in one portion size freezer dishes. Cook up family size amounts, divide into appropriate portions and freeze them. The trick is to have good food choices available when you need them. The key to weight loss success is being prepared! (see article on preparedness)

Drink, Drink, Drink decaffeinated green tea or water throughout the day.  I write about keeping hydrated because so often we don’t drink enough especially when we get busy. I can’t stand hot green tea so instead I make a big pot of tea, pour it into a pitcher and keep it cold in the refrigerator. Green tea increases your metabolism. If tea isn’t your cup of tea (groan)…drink water. Water is crucial to weight loss and optimal health.

Make canned beans your friends. Bean contain fiber and protein, canned beans are easily stored and last forever (or almost). Beans are a terrific aid to weight loss. Familiarize yourself with the great variety of beans. Dry beans are great…put most need a presoak so I tend to use more canned beans. My most recent favorite bean is the great northern bean. I have a soup recipe that is delicious and very healthy. The secret is to blend at least half the soup because the soup becomes creamy without the fat and calorie

Eat seven types of fruit of vegetable a day. I know five serving are recommended but YOU want to lose weight so tuck into seven. Eating fruits and vegetables is a no brainer for weight loss. Make healthy choices when thinking about what you choose. A yam has more fiber than a plain old baked potato.  Educate yourself about the benefits of particular veggies to get the most bang for your calorie buck.

To keep track of your veggie/fruit consumption wear seven hair ties (or bangles) on your left arm. Move one hair ties to your right arm with every fruit or vegetable you eat. Make it easy to make the right choice. Stock your refrigerator with pre washed lettuce ( remember the darker the leaf the healthier) ,  and baby  carrots. Keep lots of healthy fruits and vegetables around and make them user friendly.

  Start today! Give yourself a break and prepare your refrigerator and kitchen for success. These easy to follow tips will make losing weight a breeze…

I will see you on the slim side!