Foods Not To Eat While Dieting

When beginning a new diet plan, knowing what to eat can be a bit tricky. Many diets will outline what you should and should not eat. If you are trying to eat healthier on your own, it is helpful to know what foods to avoid and what to look for on the packaging. During a diet, reduce or eliminate consumption of specific foods and drinks to promote effective weight loss.

Liquid Calories

If you've been counting calories, don't forget about the ones you drink. People often don't factor in their beverages because it doesn't really seem like calories. Many beverages, however, can be high in calories and may establish a weight loss plateau in which little weight is lost. Avoid sugary beverages like soda or energy drinks as they can easily put you over your daily allowance and help you pack on the pounds. Try drinking water in place of sugary or high-calorie beverages. Experiment with your water by adding lemon or cucumber for more flavor.

White Grains

Grains provide you with carbohydrates and the energy you need to keep your body running all day long. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends you eat 6 oz. of grain per day. Three of these ounces should be of whole grains. When dieting, try to avoid white gains whenever possible. White grains often have more sugar and less nutrients than their whole grain alternatives. Replace your everyday white grains with whole grains instead. Look for whole grain pasta, bread and rice alternatives.

High Salt

Beware of foods containing added salt. Oftentimes, condensed soups and canned vegetables can seem like healthy options, but they are really loaded with sodium. Instead of canned vegetables, eat fresh or frozen varieties. Frozen can be bought at comparable prices to canned and have a comparable shelf life. Try making homemade soups in bulk and portion separately for meals instead of buying the canned variety.

High Fat

Get to know your fats. Avoid both saturated and trans fats. These fats are most often found in animal products and baked goods. Look for low fat dairy and lean cuts of meat to cut down on saturated fats. You can also try cooking with healthy unsaturated fats in place of the butter or margarine you currently use. Olive and canola oil are both healthy alternatives.

Tips

When grocery shopping, take the time to read the labels. Consider the calories, sodium, trans and saturated fat categories. Compare similar products to find healthier varieties. A successful diet should incorporate foods from each group. Finding healthy alternatives to what you currently eat and cutting out high-fat, processed foods can help you stay on track while dieting.