What to Eat While Losing Weight

The concept behind losing weight is actually quite simple to understand. If you take in fewer calories than you burn each day, you will lose weight. But like so many things in life, putting weight loss concept into practice can be quite difficult. Even though everyone understands the mechanics of losing weight, most of us fail to lose weight and keep it off for the long term. Changing the way you eat and choosing foods that promote good nutrition and a healthy balance can increase the odds of success.

Choose High Fiber Foods

• Eating foods that are high in fiber provides many important benefits. One of the most significant benefits of fiber rich foods is that such foods make you feel full faster. This means that you will eat less--and that will help you lose weight.

  Many foods that are rich in fiber and pleasing to the palate. Popular foods like breads, pasta, rice and cereals can be excellent sources of fiber--as long as you make the right choices.

  When you choose breads, look for whole grain varieties, including dark breads like whole wheat. Also look for fiber rich foods like whole wheat pasta, brown rice and cereals that are fortified with fiber. These fiber rich foods provide lots of nutrition for relatively few calories, and the feelings of fullness they trigger mean you will eat less.

Eat Lots of Fruits and Vegetables

• Fruits and vegetables pack lots of nutrition into small packages. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that everyone eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and adding additional fruits and vegetables to your diet is also a great way to lose weight.

  Eating a salad for lunch or dinner is one way to boost your intake of vegetables, as is inlcuding steamed broccoli, zucchini and other delicious vegetables at every mealtime. Simply adding two servings of vegetables to every meal can give you that daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables and help you enjoy a healthy and balanced diet.

Drink lots of water

• Proper hydration is important when you are dieting, especially if your diet plan also includes an exercise regimen. Drinking plenty of fresh water is a direct way to keep yourself hydrated without adding empty calories. Sugary drinks like sodas or frozen coffee drinks can add hundreds of calories to your daily diet, so it is important to look at what you drink as well as what you eat. Drinking plenty of water can also help you feel full, and that will help you lose weight without feeling hungry or deprived.