The Best Foods to Eat When Dieting

Starting a new diet is never easy, but it can be enjoyable if you have a list of tasty foods that you can eat. Instead of eating salads for every meal, try incorporating these nutritious and low-fat foods into your daily meal plan.

  • Almonds. Almonds make a great alternative to other, more fattening crunchy snacks. They’re high in healthy fats that will leave you feeling full, and they’re easy to take with you for a midday snack.
  • Leafy greens. While vegetables might not seem like the most exciting food, by preparing them in a variety of different ways, they can be quite delicious. Try sauteing dark, leafy greens like kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and collard greens with herbs and spices.
  • Black beans. Black beans are packed with protein and add a boost of flavor and fiber to salads, stir fries, and rice bowls.
  • Salmon. Protein-packed salmon helps to boost muscle growth, promotes weight loss, and does it all with less fat than red meat.
  • Grapefruit. Eating half a grapefruit before each meal is proven to help you lose up to one pound each week, mainly because it contains a compound that can lower insulin.
  • Pears. Pears contain 15 percent of your recommended daily fiber in their skin alone, and they are proven to help you lose weight.

8 Secret-Weapon Foods for Weight Loss [Eating Well]
Best Superfoods for Weight Loss [Health]
Healthy Eating [HelpGuide.org]

How to Help Ensure Your Growing Teen Is Getting the Proper Nutrition

Teenagers may seem like they don’t need your help with anything, but as a parent, you know that this simply isn’t true. When it comes to proper nutrition, your growing teen needs you more than ever. Here are a few smart tips to help ensure that your teenager is eating the right foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

  1. Have regular meals together. Eating together doesn’t just bring you closer as a family, it also ensures that your son or daughter eats a well-balanced dinner every evening. Prepare meals with lots of whole grains, lean meats and fish, and fresh vegetables.
  2. Prepare more food. As your child becomes a teenager, his or her appetite will begin to increase dramatically. Keep teens energized by serving larger portions at mealtime and keeping lots of healthy snacks on hand.
  3. Limit saturated fats and sugars. Even if your teen loves to snack on potato chips and chocolate candies, these things can contribute to certain diseases later in life. Try to limit the foods that contain saturated fats, sugars, and sodium in your household.
  4. Increase calcium intake. Because teenagers typically go through growth spurts, they require much more calcium than children and adults. Serve low fat milks, yogurt, or even calcium supplements. Ask your child's doctor for advice.

Nutrition for Children and Teens [HelpGuide.org]
A Teenager’s Nutritional Needs [HealthyChildren.org]
Do Teens Have Different Nutritional Needs Than Adults? [SF Gate]

Counting Calories? Here’s How to Stick to a Diet When Dining Out

It can be difficult to eat healthy while dining out, but that doesn’t mean you have to sabotage your diet. Here are a few smart tips for finding healthy, low-calorie meals at any restaurant.

  • Look up the menu online. Most restaurants today upload their menus to an online site, which means that you can research the healthiest options and even check the nutritional content before you leave the house.
  • Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask your server what type of oil a meal is cooked in, which sides it comes with, and if it’s topped with any decadent sauces. Then, feel free to make modifications as you see fit.
  • Steer clear of the appetizers. If you’re out with a group of friends, don’t fall victim to snacking on nachos before the meal. This can add hundreds of extra calories to your meal.
  • Know some key words. Stay away from dishes with descriptions like “pan-fried,” “cream-based,” “au gratin,” or even “sautéed.” Instead, opt for dishes that are grilled or baked.
  • Moderate your alcohol intake. Enjoy 5 ounces of red wine or 12 ounces of light beer instead of cocktail to add only 150 calories to your meal.

13 Rules for Dining Out On a Diet [Today Health]
How to eat out while sticking to your diet! [Vedonis]
How to eat at a restaurant on a diet – How to survive without blowing your diet! [What’s Cooking America]

Three Surprising Sources of Lactose

Millions of Americans suffer from lactose intolerance, a sensitivity to foods that contain the natural sugar lactose. Most often, lactose is found in dairy products such as milk and cheese, but there are some foods that contain it that you might not know about. Here are three surprising sources of lactose you should look out for:

  1. Lunch meats. Cold cut meats are great for having on hand for a quick sandwich, but they're often made with processed ingredients that include lactose. Even a small amount could be harmful to those with sensitivities. So the lactose intolerant sure to purchase farm-fresh deli meat when possible.
  2. Nougat. This creamy sweet filling in candy bars contains lactose. There are many other candies that contain lactase as well, so do your research before you indulge.
  3. "Non-dairy" creamer. This tricky label might seem like a safe choice for lactose intolerant individuals, but many brands of this milk-derived substitute still contain trace amounts of lactose. Avoid it altogether and use soy- or almond-based creamers.

8 surprising sources of lactose [Best Health Mag]
Lactose Intolerance [National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse]
Learn to Detect Hidden Lactose [Cornell Women’s Health]
What is Hidden Lactose [Lactaid]

How to Select Only the Freshest Veggies in the Produce Aisle

Fresh vegetables have a shorter lifespan than their frozen counterparts, so you likely want to make them last as long as possible when you purchase them. Use these expert tips to help you maintain a healthy diet and maximize the lifespan of your produce.

  1. Choose firm veggies. Vegetables like cucumbers, peppers, and onions should be firm, even colored, and free of bruises or other signs of damage. Be sure to pick these vegetables up in your hands and feel for consistent texture all the way around.
  2. Know your leafy greens. Green vegetables like spinach, kale, and lettuce should be crisp and brightly colored, with no visible signs of wilting or rot. You can also give these leafy vegetables a good whiff before buying to make sure that they don’t smell moldy.
  3. Inspect your root vegetables. The best potatoes, carrots, garlic, and other root vegetables may be a bit trickier to identify, but these simple tips can help: Look for cracking along the surface of the vegetable (an indicator that it's too dry), and be sure to avoid root veggies that smell rotten or moldy.
  4. Know your farmers' market veggies. If you regularly buy your produce at a supermarket, keep in mind that these types of stores use different techniques to make veggies look perfect. While farmers' market vegetables may not look as pretty, they’re still just as tasty.

How to Select Fresh, Ripe Produce [Lifehacker]
How to Pick Fruits & Veggies [Good Housekeeping]
Raw Produce: Selecting and Serving it Safely [FDA]
Choosing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables [Family Circle]

Are You Brushing Your Teeth Correctly? Find Out Here!

You’ve brushed your teeth for as long as you can remember, but how can you be sure that you’re doing it correctly? Check out these simple steps for proper tooth brushing to find out.

  1. Twice a day is only the beginning. Although many people are taught to brush their teeth in the morning and the evening, that’s actually only the minimum amount. Brushing your teeth after a large meal or any time you drink a potentially staining beverage is always a good idea.
  2. Brush in a circular motion. Dentists recommend brushing in a circular motion up toward the gums rather than the usual back and forth motion across the teeth. This technique removes bacteria without causing gum pain.
  3. Stop the final rinse. While many people rinse their mouths out with a bit of water after brushing, this is harmful because it removes the beneficial film delivered from the toothpaste. If you feel the need to rinse, only put a small amount of water in your mouth and swish it across your tongue rather than around your teeth and gums.
  4. Don’t skimp on flossing. Flossing is just as important as brushing, and it should be done almost as often. Bonus points if you floss before brushing, as that enables the toothpaste to coat those hard-to-reach places between the teeth.

How to Brush [Colgate]
Proper Brushing [ADHA]
Am I Brushing My Teeth Correctly? [Lifehacker]
How to Brush Your Teeth [Crest]

Three Iron-Rich Foods You Might Not Know About

Consuming the right amount of iron each day prevents anemia, a condition that can lead to fatigue. This essential mineral also helps cells transport oxygen throughout the body. Adding more iron to your diet isn’t difficult when you know which foods to look for; here are three of them:

  1. Beef liver. Meat eaters have some delicious options when it comes to eating iron, with beef liver containing 5.8 milligrams per serving. Beef liver also boasts the lowest fat count in comparison to other beef products.
  2. Clams. Enjoy a tasty seafood meal while also getting your daily value of iron. Twenty small clams contain 53 milligrams.
  3. Pumpkin seeds. A great source for iron, pumpkin seeds contain 4.2 milligrams per serving. Eat them as a healthy snack in between meals.

Best Foods For Iron: 20 Foods Packed With Iron [Huffington Post]
Top 10 Iron Rich Foods [WedMD]
Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron [Healthaliciousness]
Iron Rich Foods [American Red Cross]

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