Diet Tips: A Common Sense Approach

You don't have to look very far to find an array of books and online information offering diet tips to the reader. With so much information available at our fingertips, it can all seem very confusing at times. Which diet routines can you actually trust and follow with confidence? Fortunately, there are a few simple, common sense strategies that you can trust. These diet tips are not the latest fad, but they have been proven effective by countless numbers of people through the years. Whether you want to lose weight, or just look and feel your best, these tips are a great starting point to put into practice in your dietary routine today! Lets take a look at them.

Drink plenty of pure water every day. It's easy to go through the entire day, only to realize that you forgot to drink enough water. Water keeps you hydrated, and a full glass before a meal can help you to feel more full, reducing the chances that you will overeat. Also, it will lessen your desire to drink sugary soft drinks, which are not a healthy option. You need at least 64 ounces of water per day. That's close to a half gallon, so keep a water container with you everywhere you go!

Don't skip meals. Skipping meals makes you more hungry over time, and more prone to overeat at your next meal. Starving yourself is never the answer. It will only rob you of needed energy, and make you miserable. eat your daily calories sensibly!

Eat your biggest portions early in the day. The old saying, "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper," provides some wise insight. Breakfast is fuel for your day, and you will burn off the calories you take in during your daily activity. So go ahead and eat a sensible breakfast. Oatmeal provides a good source of complex carbohydrates, and eggs in moderation are a good source of protein. Lunch is a great time to eat a sandwich with lean meat such as chicken or turkey breast. At dinner time, try making a vegetable dish the center of your meal instead of meat. A large salad with dark green leafy vegetables, and an olive oil/vinegar dressing along with a small serving of lean meat is a good choice for dinner.

Plan a couple of small, healthy snacks into your day. Nuts like walnuts and almonds are a great choice, and provide natural fats that you body needs. A piece of fruit such as an apple or half of a grapefruit is always a good choice. Low fat yogurt is a great source of probiotics, which are great for your digestive system. Reach for the healthy snacks before you reach for junk food!

Speaking of healthy foods, eat your fruits and vegetables every day! Try to get 5 servings daily for optimal health.

Don't keep eating until you feel full. It is best to leave the table while still a little hungry, because it takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to relay the message to the brain that it is full. This may take some practice to get used to, but smaller portions are a good rule of thumb.

Finally, eat slowly. Take time to chew your food, and savor what you are eating. Eating quickly is a quick way to overeat. Doctors suggest that you chew each mouthful of food up to 30 times. This will not only help you to feel satisfied with less, but it is better for the digestion process as well.

Try putting these common sense diet tips into practice today. You will look and feel better over the long term, and enjoy life even more.