Dieting is hard. As soon as you start depriving yourself of something, all you want is the forbidden fruit – or forbidden Krispy Kreme doughnut, in this case. To help, check out this list of ten ways to improve your daily diet from iVillage.
1. As we all know, tea is good for us. So, make like Mary Poppins and have a spot or two of tea daily.
2. Don’t skip breakfast. Your body actually does burn calories when you sleep, and you need that boost of fuel in the morning. It’ll also rev up your metabolism for the day.
3. Use your salad plates instead of dinner plates; the smaller size will help you eat smaller portions.
4. Choose brightly colored foods. This one isn’t just aesthetic (though only eating technicolor food does sound fun) – foods that are vibrant and colorful have high doses of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
5. Don’t stress about calories. Instead, pretend your fancy, grown-up plate is a child’s sectioned plate. A quarter of the plate should be covered in lean protein, another quarter should have a whole grain, and the remaining half should be full of vegetables.
6. Know the difference between a treat and a snack. Snacks should be filling and nourishing, and a treat is, well, a treat. Snacks are great to have once or twice a day, but break out the sweets for special occasions only.
7. How many times have you found yourself on the couch, alone, watching TV, dunking Oreos in a glass of milk, when suddenly half of the box is gone? A good way to keep yourself from overindulging is to eat sugary, high-caloric snacks only in the company of a friend. Because no matter how many times you ask the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, “Isn’t this so good?, they probably won’t answer you.
8. Make your fruits fancier. How tempting does a baked apple with cinnamon sound? Just think how much healthier that is than a big slice of cake.
9. Keep sliced vegetables around the house for snacking, along with some hummus or low-fat dip. It’ll become a habit to reach for these instead of chips. Plus, now you have a chance to use the word crudité.
10. Hit the H2o – heavily. You’ll have more energy; it’ll help with digestion; and it can help clear up skin problems.
photo: Thinkstock










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