Get ready to start loving your diet again, thanks to the big idea behind National Nutrition Month this year: Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right. A weight loss diet doesn’t have to be the end of life as you know it. A truly healthy diet that can make you feel good from the inside out should be about small and gradual changes that can fit into your life without making you feel deprived.
Get ready to start loving your diet again, thanks to the big idea behind National Nutrition Month this year: Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right. A weight loss diet doesn’t have to be the end of life as you know it. A truly healthy diet that can make you feel good from the inside out should be about small and gradual changes that can fit into your life without making you feel deprived. The first step is letting go of some of the myths you may have come to believe over the years. From registered dietitian Susan Burke March at eDiets, here are 4 of the most common diet myths to give up:
Myth #1: Healthy food is bland and blah! – Many people are so used to high-sodium diets that unsalted, fresh food may taste bland at first. But, salt is an acquired taste – one that can be un-acquired! Instead, focus on herbs, spices and other natural flavoring, and you’ll soon LOVE the fresh, healthy flavors without the added salt.
Myth #2: Choose non-fat foods to lose weight – Some fats are actually health enhancers, such as the mono-and polyunsaturated fat in nuts, seeds, avocado and some fatty fish. Some fat is necessary to absorb vital nutrients. Skip the deep-frying, grill, bake, broil – poach in wine or broth. Enjoy the taste of food, instead of cooking oil.
Myth #3: Everyone needs at least 8 glasses of water daily! – This myth is gradually being debunked in expert circles. In fact, what you need daily is different from what I need, and the old “8×8” was a convenient idea but not based in science.
Myth #4: Stop eating after 8 p.m. – As long as you’re planning your meals in advance or logging your calories daily, and you know you’re within your calorie goals, it’s not a given that if you eat late you won’t lose weight. That said, try to eat smaller meals more frequently – it’s a good strategy for maintaining your energy and keeping your metabolism humming evenly.
Get more information about these 4 diet myths as well as strategies and tools for weight loss here. When dining out, choose dietitian-recommended choices like these that are full of flavor and can help you meet your weight loss goals: