Last updated : Monday, December 21, 2009

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6 Diet Tricks for 2010

Eating healthy and losing weight is at the top of the list when it comes to New Year's resolutions. Some turn to fad diets, others opt for counting calories, and a few purchase a fancy gym membership. The only problem is that come January 31st, a very small amount of these people actually find success in accomplishing their weight lost goals. But that can be changed ... all you need to do is be prepared. iMag went to Nicole Garfield, RD of The Pump Energy Food, to find out how you can drop pounds without dropping your New Year's resolution. 

1. Think Food Pairing, Not Calorie Counting: Instead of obsessing about calories, which is a constant reminder of dieting and can lead to restricting, focus your attention on maximizing nutritional value through a process called food pairing: By combining items from different food groups, the nutritional benefits to your body are greater than the combined group's constituent parts. For example, good fats such as olive oil allow your body to absorb more of the nutrients in lettuce when eating a salad than in the absence of oil.

2. Building the perfect meal: Combine lean proteins, nutrient-dense vegetables, whole grains and good fats into every dish and you'll consume less food, eliminate hunger spikes and increase energy levels because food is absorbed slower and the presence of all these components is shown to keep the body satisfied longer.

3. Re-map your plate: The misconception is to load your plate with protein. In order to maintain or lose weight, divide your plate into fourths and include 1/4 protein (lean chicken, fish or eggs), 1/4 carbs (fruit OR grains such as brown rice) and 1/2 vegetables (dark leafy greens are best).

4. Snacking is good: Snacking is no longer considered a diet sabotage. Letting your blood sugar get low can cause overeating. Eat three smaller meals a day and two snacks - one mid-morning and other mid-afternoon. You'll end up consuming less at breakfast, lunch and dinner and promote a faster metabolism.

5. Cheat a little everyday: Many "diet systems" call for a "cheat day." You can easily blow a whole week’s worth of good eating in one day if you choose. Instead of dedicating an entire day to eating whatever you want, treat yourself to something small each day - a food item you really LOVE like a small brownie or small bowl of ice cream. You’ll feel less compelled to binge on foods you’ve painstakingly eliminated from your repertoire.

6. Reorganize your kitchen: Your kitchen may be to blame for those hard to budge pounds. Simple reorganization tips can help you make the right food decisions on a daily basis. For example, keep healthful food such as salad fixings and fruit at eye level in your fridge. Put high calorie foods in the crisper. Remove the cookie jar on the countertop and replace it with a bowl of fruit - it makes grabbing an apple or a banana for snack a lot easier. Keep nuts that requiring shelling (hazelnuts, walnuts) handy - you'll consume less due to the hard work.

For more great diet tips click on iMag's Food Page.

“The Pump Energy Food” is dedicated to offering good, clean, healthful options to busy New Yorkers who needed quick, accessible solutions to suit their nutrition-conscious lifestyles. Visit www.thepumpenergyfood.com for more information.

 

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