Experiment in the kitchen. Variety is the spice life — it’s also a great strategy for sticking to your meal plan. Trying different recipes will keep your weight-loss efforts from getting boring. And you don’t necessarily have to forsake your old favorites simply because you’re dieting. A little research and…
Use smaller plates. When you’re trying to get a handle on portion sizes, your dinner can drown on those 12-inch plates. Suddenly, those healthy helpings can look smaller than ever. Trick your brain by enjoying sensible servings on a smaller platter. It will be difficult to “overdo” it when there’s…
Peer pressure can be a positive force, especially when you’re talking about fitness and healthy eating. The positive influence of having a diet buddy or attending fitness classes with others has been proven to increase weight-loss success. There are probably plenty of people around you who will take notice as…
Emotional eating can wreak havoc on even the most determined dieter. It’s a way to suppress or soothe negative feelings like boredom, grief, fear and anger. Triggers may include unemployment, financial stressors, relationship strain, health problems or simply fatigue. Our first reaction when anxiety rears its ugly head is to…
Preparing your own meals at home is a great way to reduce portion size, fat and calories. But be careful of all the sampling and tasting that’s so tempting to do while you’re cooking. A taste of that fettuccine or a nibble on that loaf of fresh hot bread or…
‘Tis the season to be jolly. The holidays are in full swing, and that means you probably have plenty of gatherings, parties and dinners on your plate… as well as plenty of season’s eatings that are loaded with fat and calories. There are ways to stay on track and still…
If you’re watching what you eat, then one of the biggest pitfalls can be eating in a restaurant, especially with friends or significant others. When dining out, call the restaurant or get a menu online ahead of time. Many restaurants publish their entire menu online or have copies available for…
Does your diet prohibit all of your favorites? Then take a trip to the Mediterranean. Dieting doesn’t have to be about deprivation, especially when you follow a Mediterranean-style way of eating. There’s not one “particular” Mediterranean diet, but they all emphasize fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, bread, dairy, fish, poultry…
Summer means hot weather, and heat means not wanting to fire up the oven and sweat out a meal. But if you can’t stand the heat, then there’s no reason to stay out of the kitchen. Just change the way you make meals. You might think the slow cooker is…
When you attend a theme park or a ball game, it’s easy to fall prey to concession stands offering hot dogs, sodas, cheese nachos and other high-calorie favorites. Instead of buying into fattening fare, pack your own cooler. Bring along bottled water, cold cuts, fresh fruit, pretzels and other convenient…