by Liz Moore

Created on: June 25, 2010

Losing weight when you love food can be a very difficult task, but it's much easier if you follow the guidelines of eating at least five servings each of fruits and vegetables every day and drinking at least one glass of water while eating.  Eating five or six smaller meals each day also helps keep your stomach full and blood sugar levels even. 

Eating a lot of fruits and vegetables is especially good for a person who loves food because you can eat quite a few and still keep your caloric intake low.  Fruits and vegetables come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, colors and tastes, and mixing and matching them in recipes can be quite the culinary adventure.  Throw a few red, green and yellow sweet peppers into a pan with some fish or chicken, add some herbs and spices, and put that over a thin bed of wild rice for a quick, healthy, and filling dinner.  Make a tropical fruit smoothie with bananas, mangoes, a touch of coconut, and some tofu for a quick summer morning pick-me-up.  Cook a small amount of chicken with onions and oranges for a different flavor.  The options are endless and trying to figure out what types of mixtures are fun and tasty can be an excellent way to satisfy the food lover in you.

Whole grains are also an important part of a healthy diet so eating a bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit can be a wonderful way to fill up.  A fruit salad with a little bran sprinkled over the top is also a good way to start the day since breakfast is a very important meal and should be eaten whenever possible.  Add a little protein to the first meal of the day with tofu or nuts to be energized and ready to face the world.

Meanwhile, stave off the summer heat by having an icy glass of water while preparing your meal and sip another while eating.  One of the best ways to feel full and stay healthy is to stay hydrated and this is especially important during the summer months.  Water is truly the perfect dietary supplement because it has no calories and it's something the body needs.  Water is also helpful in the digestive process so drinking while eating all the nice roughage provided by your fresh fruits and vegetables helps keep your body fueled and clean.  A slice of lemon and a sprig of mint can also be a nice addition to the water glass when you get tired of the plain stuff.

Healthful eating leads to a healthy weight and even those of us who are food lovers can manage both if we're careful and creative.  The real trick is to avoid eating too many fast food, prepackaged, or starchy meals whenever possible and you'll find that you no longer crave the bad stuff as much as you enjoy the healthier foods that are better for you. 

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