Dieting and Shopping

If you are on a diet, planning your grocery-shopping trip is very important. You'll need to take the time to plan your meals to fit with your diet and ensure you get both the right nutrients and the right amount of calories for your desired weight loss. Going to the grocery store, without a list, when you're on a diet is simply asking for trouble. Trust me; I've made this mistake in the past.

Plan your meals at least a week ahead of time, depending on the type of diet you've chosen. Be sure to consider both your nutritional needs and your weight loss requirements when planning your meals. Don't skimp on vital nutrients. Doing so can lead to health problems.

If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you put some sweet treats on your shopping list. If you fail to do this, you may be tempted to cheat later. Consider buying low-fat varieties of you favorite sweet snacks. Watch the calorie counts, however, as low-fat doesn't always mean low in calories. Alternatively, you may wish to bake your own sweet snacks, using fruit juice as a natural sweetener. By doing this, you can ensure the right amount of weight loss without feeling deprived.

Don't forget the salty snacks! There's nothing worse than having a craving when your cupboard is bare. Again, look for low-calorie versions of you favorite treats. Put them on your shopping list now, so you won't feel the need to grab the full -calorie version later.

Last, but not least, do not go shopping when you are hungry. If you do this, you will blow your diet by buying practically everything in the store. Instead, eat a nutritious meal before you go shopping.