Fad Free

Lose 30 pounds in 30 days! With just one supplement a day, you can drop 2 dress sizes in 2 weeks. Eliminate carbohydrates from your diet and you will be in swimsuit shape in no time! Heard those promises before? Wouldn’t it be nice it those were true? They are called “fad diets,” and if you ever read the fine print, you will notice that most state, “in combination with a healthy diet and exercise program?”

Although fad diets may yield short-term results, they may be harmful to your health and certainly don’t last for the long-term.

How to Spot a Fad Diet
Characteristics of a typical fad diet:
• Eliminates or limits certain foods or food groups (low carbohydrate, no-fat)
• Concentrates on only one food (grapefruit diet) or food group (protein-focused diet)
• Requires that you purchase supplements, bars, shakes or prepackaged food

How to Eat Right
By making small, reasonable changes to improve the healthfulness of your diet, you’ll create behaviors that can last. Avoid fad diets and follow these steps to success

1. Focus on healthy foods first
Load up on healthy, nutrient-rich foods for meals and snacks. Choose whole grains, dark green and orange vegetables, fruits, low-fat calcium-rich dairy products, lean protein (meats, fish and poultry), healthy oils (such as corn, soybean, canola and olive oil) instead of butter and margarine, and limit sugar intake.

2. Keep an open mind
Try new healthy foods to avoid getting into a healthy food rut. Here are some ideas
Fruits and Veggies: pomegranates, persimmons, jicama, broccoli rabe
Grains: quinoa, wild rice, bulgur
Dairy – Greek yogurt, kefir, low-fat cottage cheese
For Meat, Poultry and Fish – experiment with different marinades and spices to create new dishes

3. Keep focus on the big picture
A healthy diet can’t be “broken” by indulging in a single food or meal. Consumed in moderation, all foods can fit into a healthful diet.

4. Fit in Physical Activity
Regular exercise helps control body weight, promotes a feeling of wellbeing and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Physical activity and healthy eating work in synergy.

5. Back to the Basics
Making meals at home is not only easier on your wallet; it’s also easier on your waistline. When you prepare meals yourself, you have more control over the ingredients and cooking techniques used. For a new, delicious meal idea each week, check out the Right for Tonight healthy meal idea, available on the health and wellness section of ShopRite.com