Wanting to start a serious diet - what are some foods to eat?

[Anonymous]

I've never been on a really serious diet before but I know I need to lose weight pretty badly. I'm tired of always feeling self conscious and feeling judged when I go out in public. What are some items specifically that are good to eat?

Also, I love cooking, but every now and then I may wanna reach for a frozen dinner. Are there any in particular that you can actually eat?

For those that cook - any specific recipes that you would like to share that you can cook? So far all I know to make is stuff such as baked chicken with vegetables, but I don't really know what all I can put on the chicken to make it taste good. This is what I get nervous about, when I think of healthy food, I think of something that's so bland and boring tasting, lol. What do you do to make it better?

[skullly]

One of my favorite's is
Lemon Pepper Chicken!!
It's chicken breast in the Oven Broiled! MMMM!!! the lemony taste is delicious and it's made with a LOT Of juice from oranges that you squeeze yourself! It's a healthy meal! but don't over cook, or it will be dry. Look it up it's super yummy!!

~
Eggs with spinach!
Boiled egg whites
Chicken breast
Salmon
Chicken broth with chicken breast and vegetables!
Vegetable soup! yummy!
Stuffed Zucchini
Red bell-peppers
Nuts (almonds/walnuts)
*Cook foods with coconut oil preferably*
Grapefruits
Strawberries
Blueberries
raspberries

There are NO frozen healthy foods. (avoid completely) They are loaded with sodium (SALT) it makes you look like jigglypuff!

Don't drink cow milk... but if you "must" because you're a milk lover, then just don't drink it "whole"
COLD Almond milk with VERY cold water is better alternative (that's my advice) (not from silk)

Avoid anything WHITE / white flour (white fluffy foods)
Avoid Sugar foods and sugar drinks
*Flour turns into sugar in the body and Sugar turns into fat in the body*

Eat healthy fats (avocados/salmon/skinless chicken/nuts/almond milk/ etc..

monounsaturated fats (good fats)
polyunsaturated fats (good fats)
Mono and poly fats are good for your heart and cholesterol

Avoid
trans fats (bad fats)
saturated fats (bad fats)

Stay away from "High fructose corn syrup" (read the labels if it has it, eliminate it from your diet)
~in case you did't know: High fructose corn syrup is FAKE sugar... so if sugar is bad, imitation is far worse~

*if you can add lemon to all the foods you eat, do it ~ it's healthy* and to drinks as well...

Eat small frequent meals/ if you eat until you feel so full you're only expanding your waist line. Your plate should look mostly green. and eat peaches for dessert :p! cause they're yummy! ;p!

[skullly]

and dark chocolate! :D! yum!

[Ersacol28]

Some of the food that are very good when dieting and what works for me is, kale, proteins, quinoa, lots of vegetables and try to eat chicken breast instead of dark meat.

[Kythe]

Focus less on individual foods than on your diet as a whole.

First of all, if you want to lose weight, it's calories, calories, calories. Weight gain or loss is determined by calories consumed vs. calories burned, period.

If you're looking at overall health (including retaining muscle), which I think is a very good idea, then you'll need to focus also on getting sufficient protein, as well as an adequate intake of monounsaturated fats/Omegas, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

In terms of how to manage hunger/calories: fiber/complex carb intake (and limiting simple sugars) can help both with cravings and feeling full. Greater protein intake can do the same. Eating foods that simply have a lot of mass/volume/bulk for the calories obviously helps with reducing calorie intake, too -- and I include water in that category.

For improving taste without hiking calories, consider a number of spices, seasoning options (go easy on the sodium, obviously, unless you also have decent potassium intake).

Combining the diet with regular, vigorous exercise, especially resistance exercise (weightlifting) is a very good idea.

[CourtJester]

Quick run through: Avoid processed carbs/sugar (sodas, white rice/bread, pastries, etc.), eat more natural fibers (veggies/fruits)... and of course, be in a caloric deficit. I suggest carb cycling and intermittent fasting for a more progressive weight/fatloss. Goodie Luck!

[SteamBuns]

The better it tastes the worse it is for you