Controlling Your Diet

“You are what you eat” is a popular quote that serves as a reminder of how what we consume affects us.  While there are many different diets in existence, the best way to control your diet is to simply be mindful of what you eat and drink.

The First Step

The first thing to do when seeking to control your diet is to decide whether you are seeking to maintain your current weight or if you want to lose weight.  If you want to maintain your current weight, simply maintain your current amount of consumption but make sure that the food that you are eating has some nutritional value.  Try replacing fast food with healthier options such as vegetables and whole grains.  If you like pasta, eat whole grain pasta with a tomato or pesto based sauce rather than a cream based sauce such as fettuccini or vodka sauce.  Another good idea is to skip snacks.  Rather than have a candy bar or other unhealthy, sugary snack, eat fruits or sugar-free pudding cups.  Fruit contains healthy, natural sugar rather than the refined, processed sugar in candy and other sweet snacks.  A sugar-free pudding cup topped with low fat whipped topping will give you the illusion of eating a traditional dessert without all of the unhealthy sugar, fat, or calories.  Maintaining your current weight is a bit easier than attempting to lose weight, however, it still requires that you have a healthier diet without changing your caloric intake too much.

Replace Bad Food with Good Food

If you are seeking to lose weight, your diet will probably have to take a dramatic turn for the better.  Use the tools listed above, such as substituting fruits and vegetables for sweet snacks, and withdrawing from eating fast food.  Even during the week when you are the most tempted to eat out at restaurants at lunch during the work week, you can still replace your regular eating habits with healthier options.  Rather than eating a cheeseburger or fajita, eat a salad with low calorie dressing or a grilled sandwich rather than a fried one.  Avoid desserts and donuts, anything with a high calorie content and low nutritional value.  Another good idea is to replace three large meals a day with four to five smaller meals that are evenly spaced out throughout the day.

Eat More Often, but in Smaller Portions

Eat in smaller, snack-sized portions every three to four hours that you are awake, with the last meal taking place no less than four hours before you retire for the evening.  Eating smaller portions more often during the day will help to cut down on your impulse to snack while finishing your eating by four hours before retiring for the night will allow you to begin digesting your food before you go to sleep.  By making these healthy changes you will be better able to control your diet.