5 Easy Diet Tweaks

5 Easy Diet Tweaks

If you’re having trouble losing weight on your current eating plan, you can try making some adjustments that might bring you better results. These simple changes won’t require any radical changes to your diet and can help you reach your goal weight faster. Here are five diet tweaks that may work wonders for you.

Prepare Your Own Food

Frozen meals and other processed foods that are labeled as “diet” or “healthy” are not always best for you to eat. Some of these foods contain sugars and other ingredients that often make losing weight more difficult. Instead of buying these foods, you can purchase your own ingredients and prepare meals yourself at home. Many of the processed foods that you enjoy eating can be replicated with the right recipes and likely won’t contain the same fattening ingredients when you prepare them yourself. Plus, getting into the habit of preparing your own meals will make it less tempting for you to eat out at restaurants or fast-food establishments that have more calorie-packed items on their menus.

Take Some Supplements

Certain dietary supplements are also known to help with weight loss. Many people have been able to shed bodyfat faster by taking green tea supplements. Chitosan, glucomannan and conjugated linoleic acid are other beneficial supplements for losing weight. Whey protein, which is popular among bodybuilders, can help shed pounds and improve muscle tone. Caffeine supplements, when taken in moderation, are often good in facilitating weight loss. If you want to add some spice to your diet, cayenne pepper works well as an ingredient to many foods along with being a great supplement for weight loss on its own. You can also try taking diet pills that are made with natural ingredients and formulated to suppress appetite.

Increase Fiber Intake

Eating more fiber can make you feel fuller for longer periods of time, which will help combat cravings for unhealthy foods. Foods that are rich in fiber take longer to digest and can keep you from getting so hungry in between meals. Celery contains soluble fiber and is one of the best foods for keeping the stomach full and staving off hunger. Quinoa is an excellent fiber source and is also considered to be one of the best low-calorie foods. If you want to add fiber along with some healthy sweetness to your diet, try eating more oranges, bananas and sweet potatoes. Believe it or not, even cocoa powder can be a healthy fiber source when consumed in moderation.

Substitute Dressings and Spreads

The dressings and spreads that you add to your salads, breads and other food items may not be so good for losing weight and can be substituted with healthier alternatives. Olive oil is a great substitute for butter and salad dressings. Lemon juice and salt can also work as a substitute for many salad dressings. Mashed avocadoes and hummus make terrific spreads for breads and crackers. If you’re looking for a healthy substitute for mayonnaise, try using low-fat cottage cheese or plain Greek yogurt.

Maintain an Eating Schedule

Sticking to an eating schedule can instill a better sense of self-discipline as you attempt to drop the excess pounds. Whether you eat three standard meals or several small meals throughout the day, you should try to consume your food around the same times consistently. Maintaining a regular eating schedule may also keep you from skipping meals, which can actually cause weight gain as your metabolism slows. Keeping a food diary is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy eating schedule, and you can use this journal to record eating times, the foods that you ate and their caloric and other nutritional content.
Tweaking your diet doesn’t have to involve any major changes that could end up throwing off your plans. These simple adjustments should be viewed as additions to your diet that can help you shed the pounds easier.