1. Eat Breakfast
Mom knew best when she told you to eat your breakfast. Breakfast will help kick-start your day. A breakfast based on a traditional Mediterranean diet includes whole grains such as oatmeal or cereal, fresh fruit and yogurt. Avoid sugary donuts and caffeinated coffee. There are also no processed meats, such as bacon or sausage. You may eat eggs once or twice a week, but not every day. By eating breakfast, you will curb hunger later on in the morning. Many people complain that they aren't hungry first thing in the morning. To help yourself wake up hungry for a well-balanced breakfast, stop eating at least two hours before bedtime. In addition, going to bed hungry may improve your metabolism, helping you to lose weight faster.
2. Step Away From the Vending Machine
Processed foods are a big no-no on the Mediterranean diet. Instead, stock up on healthy and tasty snacks to munch on during the day. One of the best benefits of the Mediterranean diet is that it includes lots of foods rich in flavor as well as vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. Keeping classic Mediterranean snacks such as nuts, fresh fruit or yogurt handy will give you a healthy alternative to chips, cookies or other empty calorie foods. Many of the snacks on the Mediterranean diet are easy to prepare and store. After all, a fresh apple or pear requires minimal attention.
3. Plan Ahead
Create a diet battle plan that will help you avoid forbidden foods. First, understand what you can eat on a daily basis on the Mediterranean diet (fish, olive oil, whole grains, fresh veggies and fruits) and what you can eat once or twice a week (poultry, dairy) and what you can have once or twice a month (red meat, sugar). Next, create a daily menu that uses foods from the Mediterranean diet. This will give you a list of all the food you need for the entire week. There is no excuse for a stray bag of chips or a package of cookies to find their way into your shopping cart. To further help yourself avoid forbidden foods, eat a well-balanced meal before you go shopping. This will help curb impulse (read: unhealthy) buys.
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