| 1. Eat 6 small meals per day (and smaller portion sizes) 2. Eat only whole grain carbs such as brown rice, whole wheat bread and pasta, and avoid refined carbs such as WHITE flour, rice, pasta, and bread 3. Eat a complete breakfast - skim milk, oatmeal egg whites, fresh fruit, wheat bread, and reduced fat cheeses are all great options 4. Keep healthy snacks on hand at work. Salt-free nuts, granola, and veggies are great snacks and will save you a trip to the vending machine 5. Learn how to read a nutrition label 6. Cut WAY back on the amount of sugar you're eating. Choose sugar-free products and sweeteners such as Splenda instead and avoid foods with "high fructose corn syrup," "dextrose," and "sucrose" 7. Choose healthy sources of protein 8. Eat more vegetables - try eating 3-4 servings a day for a week. You will be amazed by the results 9. Indulge occasionally. Treat yourself to a couple slices of pizza, a hamburger, or ice cream once per week. 10. If you're eating out, check out the healthy menu options ahead of time at Healthy Dining Finder 11. Learn how to cook healthy food 12. Remember that healthy eating is the beginning of a long-term healthy lifestyle plan. Many people have tried all different types of diets and have become frustrated when they don't lose weight fast. One of the best tips I can give is to change your mindset...don't go into a new healthy eating plan expecting miraculous results. Living a healthy lifestyle is an evolving, gradual, and often times slow process, but you will soon find out how rewarding it can be. |