If you have a hard time making healthy food choices, you might just need a few tips or ideas for making snacks and meals. A few general rules can help guide you: avoid processed foods, watch your serving sizes and eat a colorful variety. Change your diet in a way you can maintain, rather than focusing on fads or quick fixes. Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet.
Expand on Pre-Packaged Meals
Choose low-calorie pre-packaged meals. These meals typically provide a well-balanced, portion-controlled option for lunches or dinners, but the small size may leave you hungry an hour later. Use the meal as your starter, then add additional fruits or vegetables to increase the amount of food you're eating without vastly increasing your calorie count. For instance, if you choose a pre-packaged pizza, add an apple and carrots to round out your meal.
Add Color
If you've ever looked at your plate and seen brown, tan and more brown, adding color to your diet will help ensure you're getting proper nutrients. According to the Helpguide website, the bright colors in fruits and vegetables indicate low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods. Aim to add at least five colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet each day. To remind you to get your colors in, wear five rubber bands around one wrist, and every time you eat a colorful fruit or vegetable, switch one rubber band to your opposite wrist. Bonus points if you eat five different-colored fruits and vegetables each day.
Make Small Changes
Small changes can make a big difference. For instance, switching from white bread to whole-wheat bread will increase your fiber intake and help reduce the likelihood of blood-sugar spikes that often come from processed foods. You might also find that the extra fiber helps keep you full longer, reducing your overall calorie intake.
Other small changes include switching low-fat dairy products for full-fat dairy, choosing 100-percent juices rather than cocktail blends and avoiding empty liquid calories like sodas and alcohol.
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