Enjoying diet foods is an important part of a successful weight loss program. It is much easier to stick with diet foods when you actually like eating them. This is not as difficult as many dieters believe. Diet food can be delicious without adding unnecessary fat, calories and salt that can lead to weight gain. Enjoying diet foods is a matter of careful meal preparation and good food choices.
Step 1
Experiment with spices. Spices can make any bland dish more enjoyable. Most spices contain zero calories. You can add as much as you want without fear of ruining your diet. For example, if you are grilling chicken, add dill, oregano and pepper to give your chicken a spicy kick. Spices can also replace salt. High salt intake contributes to water and weight gain as well as high blood pressure.
Step 2
Add fruit to your diet. Fruit is a healthy diet food that can replace sugar-saturated foods. Eat fruit in place of sugary snacks or dessert. Add fruit to plain low-fat yogurt for a sweet treat that is also high in protein and calcium. If you consistently eat fruit instead of processed sugar, your body will grow accustomed to fruit and not crave processed sugar anymore.
Step 3
Use artificial sweeteners. Sweeteners like Splenda or Equal can make your diet food taste sweeter without adding any calories. James Madison University doctors say sweeteners can make plain cereal or bland coffee more enjoyable with no significant side effects. Many people actually consider them sweeter and more enjoyable than ordinary sugar.
Step 4
Focus on the entire experience of the meal. Dietitian Vera Massey Nichols of the University of Missouri says you should pay attention to the appearance, texture and aroma of your diet foods. Turn your meal into an experience by setting the table, lighting candles, putting on some music and using nice china. Pretend you are in a restaurant and enjoy your meal in a classy way.
Step 5
Make your healthy meal a social event and have some fun with diet food. Invite a few like-minded friends over to cook diet meals. Prepare large batches of diet food with friends, then eat the leftovers throughout the week. You also may be able to exchange tips with your friends on how to season and cook diet foods.
Member Comments