How to Make Lasting Changes for a Healthier Diet

Forget the sweets and treats by finding healthy ways to liven up your menu

If you were to actually break down the average American diet, you may be surprised by how out-of-touch it is with any nutritional reality. For too many people, eating healthy means opting for a diet-soda instead of a full-calorie beverage.

Here are a few startling statistics that showcase how out of touch the daily American diet is with healthy eating strategies:

• In the last 50 years, the number of meals prepared at home has declined by 20 percent.
• More than a third of all meals are eaten on-the-go.
• Approximately 15% of our meals annually are coming out of drive-thru windows.

This is a disturbing trend, and it speaks to the types of habits that we need to let go of if we are going to be successful during a medical weight loss program.

Healthy Changes for a Healthier You

During your medical weight loss program, you’ll be encouraged to make some big changes to your eating habits. Switching out sugary and fat-filled sweets for healthier meals is a must, not only for your weight loss program, but for long-term weight management. For too many people, making the healthy choice day after day is an ongoing struggle. But, it doesn’t have to be.

The goal of medical weight loss isn’t to create temporary changes in your diet and lifestyle so that you can lose weight. It is to create a permanent shift so that you can maintain that weight loss. This can’t be done if you replace every food you love with only things you hate. The truth is that by being a little open minded and exploring healthy foods, you can find new favorites that are actually good for you.

Here are a few tips for developing a healthy menu that meets your taste-buds expectations:

• Start with the flavors you love and convert them into healthier alternatives. You can capture the flavors of pizza in a healthy herbed Italian dish, or the intensity of hot wings with the right spices.
• Don’t leave your vegetables plain and raw if you don’t like them that way. There are plenty of ways to spice up a vegetable plate without detracting from the nutritional value. Ask your nutritionist for a few suggestions.
• Mix up your vegetables day to day. No one enjoys a boring diet, but there are countless veggies out there that you can enjoy, from broccoli to Brussels sprouts, from carrots to cauliflower. Explore your local farmer’s market for inspiration.

No-one wants to eat broccoli every night of the week. The trick is to find vegetables that pack a lot of flavor, and to use them together to create tasty meals. Talk with your medical weight loss doctor about the most nutritious food choices for your diet, and then start exploring ways that you can turn those items into menu choices you’ll crave.