Meal portions in America have become larger as we all seek value for money. Unfortunately those bigger portions mean many of us consume way too many calories, which results in weight gain. Processed foods and fatty foods even in small portion sizes can contain more calories than most people should be eating in one single sitting.

What’s wrong with a lot of diet plans is that they cut certain foods out of your diet entirely, which can mean missing out on some important nutrients in the bargain. You should steer clear of any diet that tells you to avoid entire food groups. There is also a negative connotation to the word “diet” itself. Many of us think that anything called a diet means that we are going to be constantly hungry or something which certainly does not have to be the case.

The problem with most diets is that they restrict you from eating certain foods, which can cause you to miss getting some vital nutrients. Any diet which tells you to stop eating an entire food group is best avoided. Many people are also wary of the very word “diet”, thinking that this means that they’ll be hungry all the time. However, you can diet and lose weight without having to suffer.

For example, if you’re hungry between meals and you need a snack to keep you going, a cup of strawberries is enough to stop your tummy from grumbling, but will only add 23 calories to your daily count. A cup of grapes will only add 31 calories to your count. Perhaps one small red apple will stop that hungry feeling and only add 55 calories to your total and a cup of watermelon will only add 23 calories to your total.

There are healthy snacks you can have between meals which won’t add a lot of calories to your daily intake while satisfying hunger pangs. Try half a cup of grapes (about 31 calories), a half cup of strawberries (21 calories), a half cup of watermelon (23 calories) or a small apple (about 55 calories).

The best part about knowing that you can only eat foods that add up to a total of 1,500 calories per day is that you can tailor your meals to suit your own tastes and the types of food you still enjoy.

Another great example of this is that you might enjoy a nice grilled piece of chicken for dinner, but you can make a REALLY large salad to serve on the side that will not only make sure you?re full at the end of the meal, but will still be within your daily calorie limit.

You can make a very filling salad which has only about 15 calories (before any kind of dressing). Think it’s impossible? Just follow this - half a cup of shredded lettuce is only 2 calories, half a tomato is about 6, a sliced mushroom another two and about four more calories for a few cucumber slices! This is a great way to fill up while staying well within your calorie limit for the day. You could also choose to have a small baked potato instead of the salad. This is almost as filling, but comes to around 115 calories.

There are plenty of charts available which can help you to count your calories and plan a diet which will allow you to get all of the necessary nutrients, enjoy a variety of foods and of course, still lose weight.

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