How to Develop Healthy Eating Habits

The old adage still  delivers the same message – if you take in less calories than your body burns, you will lose weight.  Developing healthy eating habits for your lifetime is a start. 

Step 1:  Keep unhealthy food out of your house and replace it with healthy options.  Keep fruit or low calorie desserts rather than high calorie candy and cookies in your kitchen.  Replace dairy products with low-fat or fat free dairy products.  Replace drinking soda with drinking water for an instant reduction in caloric intake.

Step 2:  Keep sugar free sucking candy with you for when you feel the urge for something sweet.

Step 3:  Use smaller dinner plates to control portion size.  Most restaurants are still serving portions that are too big for a single meal.  Ask for a take home box as soon as your meal arrives and divide your dinner in half.  Now you are going to enjoy this meal a second time.

Step 4:  Include more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Fresh vegetables can be added to casseroles to increase their volume without adding calories.  Cut up fresh fruit and serve with low fat plain yogurt for a snack. 

Step 5: Replace regular pasta and rice with whole wheat pasta and brown rice.  Whole grain products have more fiber and will fill you up.  They will keep you feeling full longer.

Step 6: Eat lean meats, fish and poultry for protein which the body needs to remain healthy.  Broil, bake  or grill it, instead of frying it.

Step 7:  When cooking or serving meals measure portion sizes rather than guessing. Measure the ingredients as you are cooking rather than just guessing.  Serve meals individually rather than 'family style'.  Add a salad with fat free dressing to each meal.

Step 8: Never skip a meal.  Skipping a meal will make you feel hungry and either eat an unhealthy handy snack or overeat at your next meal. Doctors say it is healthier to eat smaller meals and eat more often. 

Step 9:  Add a little exercise to your daily routine.  Park your car a little further away than usual, or take the steps instead of an elevator whenever possible.  Burning a few extra calories each day will help manage your weight.

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