Eat More!

That's right. You heard me. On this weight loss site, I'm encouraging you to eat TONS...of fruits and vegetables. When you’re trying to lose weight, you usually focus on what you have to cut back on. How about something you should be eating more of? The truth is most of us could stand to get more fruits and vegetables in our diets. Low in calories, and high in fiber, nutrients, and flavor, they are a successful dieter’s best kept secret. Eating more produce can actually curb your appetite. A recent study showed that people who eat a small salad before an entrée end up eating less at the meal—sounds like the newest diet supplement! Almost everyone is familiar with the campaign “5 a day” to get at least five servings of fruits and/or vegetables every day. Here are some simple strategies to help you get five (or more) a day: .................

• Top your cereal with a sliced banana or fresh berries.
• Add frozen vegetables to your canned soup before heating it.
• When ordering a pizza or sandwich, ask for less meat and cheese and more veggies.
• Add some grated carrots or grape halves to your tuna salad.
• Whip up a smoothie with fresh or frozen fruit and skim milk.
• Have a salad for your entrée, and fruit for your dessert.
• Make an omelet with onions, peppers, and tomatoes.
• Plant a garden—you’ll have plenty of produce at your convenience.
• Grab a piece of fresh fruit for a snack instead of a candy bar or chips.
• Throw some spinach in the water when boiling pasta or rice—then serve them together.
• Try serving cooked spaghetti squash instead of noodles with marinara sauce.