For most people, losing weight is difficult, and it's even harder to keep the weight off. The best way to have a healthy weight for life is to create a habit of making healthy food choices rather than perpetually going on diets. Instead of dieting and eliminating an entire food group, select low-calorie foods from each for a balanced diet. Drink plenty of water to help you feel full and to flush the toxins from your body.
Healthy Proteins for Watching Your Weight
Lean meats, such as chicken, pork, lamb and veal are good sources of protein. The best cuts of meat are choice or select because prime cuts have more marbling, which means more fat. Eat fish at least twice a week. Tuna, salmon, sardines, trout, scallops, clams, crab and scallops provide the protein you need. Even the more fatty fish are healthy for people watching their weight because they have the omega 3 fatty acids that help protect the cardiovascular system. Chicken and turkey, both without the skin, are also excellent choices. Broil, bake or grill meat instead of frying it. Avoid organ meats or processed meat. Other foods high in protein but good for watching your weight include lentils, lima beans, soybeans, nuts in small quantities, natural peanut butter, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, low fat milk, low-fat yogurt and low-fat cottage cheese.
Healthy Fruits and Vegetables for Watching Your Weight
A regular diet loaded with fruits and vegetables will provide most of the vitamins and other nutrients your body needs. Healthy fruits include apples, bananas, oranges, pears, peaches, plums, berries, melons and pineapple. Vegetables that will keep you from putting on weight are broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, celery, leafy green vegetables, eggplant, mushrooms, bell peppers, green peas, Brussels sprouts, cucumber, cauliflower and tomatoes.
Healthy Carbohydrates for Watching Your Weight
Instead of eliminating or severely limiting carbohydrates as some fad diets call for, focus on eating food with complex carbohydrates that provide the nutrients and fiber your body needs. Look for brown rice, 100 percent whole wheat bread products, 100% whole wheat waffles, buckwheat, bran, beans, oatmeal and sweet potatoes. Avoid adding butter or margarine to your food because it is high in fat. Limit cookies, cakes, cookies, muffins, doughnuts and French fries.
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