Eat More, Weigh Less: Eating To Lose

One of the most common misconceptions about weight loss is that it requires you to starve or deprive yourself of the foods and beverages you love most. Wrong! While it is true that weight loss requires you to make some sacrifices, it is by no means the end of life as you know it. In fact, there are certain foods that can actually help you to achieve your goals for weight loss. Here are just a few of your best bets for eating to lose.
You already know that vegetables are the dieter's best friend, but do you know why? One word: fiber. Fiber helps to promote a healthy digestive system by supporting regularity and healthy bowels. It certainly is not the most glamorous notion, but it is one that is scientifically proven and rooted in sound nutritional principles. Your best bet is anything leafy and green, including kale, spinach, lettuce, sprouts and cabbage. Consult a healthy living cookbook and you will discover that salad is only one of the hundreds of ways you can incorporate these foods into your daily diet. As an added bonus, foods that are high in fiber also help you to feel fuller, longer. 
Banish the notion that you cannot lose weight if you consume dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt. When eaten in moderation, these calcium-rich foods can contribute to weight loss and stronger, healthier bones. The trick is to avoid whole milk products in favor of reduced-fat or skim milk items. If you are lactose intolerant, you might consider products made with soy, almond or rice milk. These dairy-free alternatives can be just as flavorful and satisfying as their dairy counterparts -- healthier, too!
If you snack or graze throughout the day, you may be loading up on hundreds of extra calories hidden in dips made from cheeses, sour cream, ranch or other oily substances. Add to that the sodium and fat found in potato and corn chips, and you have a (tasty) recipe for disaster. To lose weight, you don't have to give up all salty snacks, but you do need to make more nutritionally sound choices. For example, you might replace regular chips with Sun Chips, crisp veggies, whole-grain chips or baked chips. Instead of oil dips, opt for fresh salsas or hummus.
Finally, a caveat for picky eaters: Don't be discouraged before you even begin. The days of sitting at your parents' dinner table before a plate heaped with green peas and turnips are long gone. If you have difficulty stomaching the taste and texture of fruits and vegetables, you still have options. First, juices like V8 combine one or two full servings of fruits and veggies in a single glass, making it fairly painless to get your recommended daily allowance of each food group. Also, celebrity chefs like Jessica Seinfeld have written dozens of cookbooks that incorporate "hidden" fruits and vegetables into popular dishes like macaroni and cheese, meatballs and more. Sure, they are written with picky kids in mind, but adults love the recipes, as well!
By no means does this article cover all of the healthy, delicious alternatives available to you as you eat to lose. As you become familiar with your choices, you will find it even easier to come up with interesting flavors and combinations that will leave you satisfied and delighted. For more ideas, feel free to peruse food blogs, cookbooks, online recipe databases and other sources for inspiration.