Diet Food

Diet Food Pros and Cons

Diet foods, such as shakes, bars, prepackaged entrees and desserts offer advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include portion control, balanced nutrition and easy or no preparation. The disadvantages stem from serving sizes not being substantial enough and leaving you hungry. Taste can be a negative factor for the discerning gourmet cook, as well as quality and freshness of some items.

Portion Control

Weight loss programs and foods, such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and Lean Cuisine provide prepackaged meals and snacks. By selecting their diet products you are provided with appropriate serving sizes to help keep calorie totals in check. Similarly, meal replacements such as shakes and bars offer appropriate calorie and nutrient counts in a convenient, portable package.

It is easy to view these items as choices that will assist with weight loss. However, it is imperative to remember that one serving is advantageous toward weight loss, but two or three servings may not be. Before choosing a prepackaged item, it is wise to be sure it will satisfy your hunger. Often times, the calories and fat grams are low because the serving size is small.

Healthy Additions

Meal replacements can be supplemented with other foods to make them more substantial and filling. Adding vegetables to a prepared diet meal is beneficial not only to bulk up the meal, but to add more vitamins, minerals and fiber to your intake. Similarly, a ½ cup of berries planned as part of your afternoon snack with your favorite diet bar is a healthy addition with few calories. The key is planning the vegetable or fruit serving to avoid extra calories from additional servings of the packaged dietary item.

Similarly, herbs and spices can be added to enhance the flavors of diet entrees. A dash of pepper or oregano on the pasta meal may be all it takes to improve its taste. A considerable amount of sodium is often added at the food processing plant to enhance flavor. If you are salt-sensitive, read labels and choose the lowest sodium varieties.

Whole Foods as Diet Foods

Carrots, celery, tomatoes and broccoli are low-calorie, low-fat and nutritious foods. Low-fat dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt fit comfortably and conveniently into a weight-loss plan. Lean proteins such as skin-less chicken and turkey breasts, lean beef, pork, egg whites, legumes, nuts and fish contain satisfying amounts of calories. Complex carbohydrates such as whole grain breads, cereals, crackers and pasta offer low-calorie and high-fiber to any meal or snack. All these can be combined to create a weight loss plan without relying on processed foods.

As with all foods, eating them in moderation is essential to weight loss and weight maintenance. Measuring utensils and a food scale are helpful tools to help keep quantities in check. For ease of preparation, many whole foods can be purchased pre-washed, pre-cut and ready to serve. For proper serving sizes, check labels and divide food accordingly.

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