What to Eat

The best thing about my plan is that I can eat pretty much whatever I want-just in moderation. But I will say that some foods are better than others for keeping you under your calorie limit and keeping you full.

Here is a short list of my new favorite low calorie snacks:

Zucchini-you have no idea how much zucchini I have eaten this summer, I think it is my magic diet food. It is only 31 calories for a whole medium sized zucchini, so you can eat a lot of it! Fry it up with a little olive oil and parmesan cheese, or make vegetable lasagne or zucchini crisp. Honestly the possibilities are endless.


Actually most vegetable have very few calories. 10 small snack carrots are only 30 calories.



String Cheese (low fat mozzerella)-70 to 80 calories-gives you protein and is delish.



Pretzels (in a bag)-48 small pretzel sticks are only 100 calories!



All fruit Strawberry bars-80 calories and a great treat when you're craving sweets



Quaker granola bars-90 to 100 calories-a good snack.



Low fat Cottage cheese-90 calories for a 1/2 cup.


Watermelon-only 46 calories for a cup of diced watermelon and it is filling too.


Triscuit Thin crisps-15 crackers for 130 calories


Any fruit-most servings of fruit are less than 100 calories (my favorites are blueberries and peaches).


It's really important to snack throughout the day. When I let myself get too hungry then I start reaching for unhealthy foods to fill me up. A little snack every hour or two really helps me.


Now as to what to avoid.


Avoid Fatty foods-This is not because I count up my fat grams for the day, I don't, but fatty foods are very calorie dense. For example 1 tablespoon of butter is 100 calories! That just doesn't go far. Also peanut butter is between 180 and 190 calories for two tablespoons. I'm not saying never eat these, but don't eat too much in one day.


Ice cream-I could put this under fatty foods but it deserves its only category. The truth is not all ice creams are created equal. Dreyer's Loaded Cookie dough ice cream has only 130 calories for 1/2 a cup, not too bad, but Haagen Dazs Cookies and Cream has 270 calories for half a cup! That's a not so good. Actually the Dreyer's ice cream is very good, a great alternative to other ice creams.


Soda, juices, etc.-these are just empty calories, don't fall for it. They don't fill you up and add a lot of calories.


Candy bars-Again there is the not so bad (100 grand-190 calories) and the bad Peanut Butter Twix (280 calories).


Anyway, I know none of these ideas are a revelation, but just some good ideas I have discovered on my way. Good Luck!