If you're worried about your weight, the best place to start is by talking with your doctor. A healthy weight can mean different things for different people, depending on your height, your body type and your genes, explains TeensHealth, an online health and parenting information resource maintained by the Nemours Foundation. Before you start any diet plan, you should talk to your doctor to figure out what your healthy weight range should be.
Watch What You Drink
You get calories from what you drink as well as from the food you eat and most people don't realize that your daily beverage choices can have a big impact on your daily calorie count. According to TeensHealth, cutting just one soft drink or sports drink each day can save you as much as 150 calories. If you drink whole milk, switching to low-fat or non-fat milk can also save you calories.
Snack Smarter
Munching on chips or candy while you're studying or watching television can add lots of empty calories to your diet. Instead, the American Dietetic Association recommends choosing fruits, like apples, blueberries or bananas and low-fat dairy products like cheese and yogurt for healthier snacks.
Eat Regular Meals
Though skipping meals may seem like a good way to shed pounds, Children's Hospital Boston's Center for Young Women's Health says that eating three meals and a couple of snacks every day is actually the best way to maintain a healthy weight. The reason: Skipping meals, especially breakfast, makes you hungry a few hours later, which means you're more likely to overeat or make unhealthy choices.
Eat Your Favorite Foods
Fad diets that outlaw certain foods or too-strict diet plans that make your favorite snacks totally off-limits are likely to make you cheat, according to TeensHealth. Instead, look for a healthy eating plan that emphasizes eating lots of different foods, including some sweets and snack foods, in moderation. You'll be more likely to stick with the program and get the results you want if you can indulge occasionally.
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