The Perfect Diet Food List

Trying to diet and not sure what to add to your diet food list? Not even sure how to begin to make one? You are not alone. The following focuses on some of best food groups for weight loss and overall healthy eating. Incorporate these into your diet along with exercise three to five days a week, a half hour to one hour a day and you will see results in your waistline in no time.

The importance of drinking water cannot be stressed enough. The consensus is that six to eight cups of water a day (and those are measurement cups by the way) are essential for optimum hydration. The very best way to do this is to carry around a refillable water bottle with you and take sips through out the day. It is not necessary to force yourself to drink large amounts of water at a time. Sipping is fine, and if you replace your usual meal beverage with the water in your bottle you will not only get enough water throughout your day, but you will save calories, feel full faster and help your body better digest your meals.

Vegetables are a great source of fiber, water and nutrients. They should constitute about half your meal. If you think that that seems overwhelming consider that the portion does not have to be the same vegetable. A portion of homemade, low fat mashed potatoes can be eaten with a serving a broccoli while the carrots in a soup can be accompanied by a salad, etc.

Fresh fruit is always the best way to get your fruit servings. In lieu of fresh fruit, frozen fruits, dried fruits and canned fruit in water are also acceptable replacements, but monitor the content of any added sugar, including high fructose corn syrup, before consumption. They are also a great source of fiber and vitamins. However since they are naturally higher in sugar than vegetables, consumption of fruits should be less than consumption of vegetables. The best way to do this is to limit fruits to breakfast and snacks.

Dairy should be monitored. Some products, like live active culture yogurts are great for your digestive system and should be included often. Others such as high fat milks, creams and cheeses should be used sparingly since they contain fats an cholesterol that in large quantities are not beneficial to your health. Low fat or Fat Free milks are best, although there are many great substitutes out there if you are lactose intolerant or just looking for other options.

Meats should be lean if included at all. Fish and poultry are by far the most healthy of the meats because they have less fat content and depending on the cut can have less cholesterol. Not all seafood is as healthy as fish though. Shrimp for example have a lot of cholesterol and should be enjoyed sparingly.

Oats, grains and legumes are essential for an easy to follow healthy diet. Garbanzo beans, lentils, and even hummus can mix up drab, boring or routine meals. Breads and pastas should be whole grain and eaten in the right portions. A portion of pasta is actually much smaller than most people presume and so they tend to over eat it. Be sure to measure your servings and know how much you are actually consuming.

Some alternative foods, such as tofu, polenta and rice cakes can help fill in your diet. Tofu for example can be used as a meat substitute and does well in a great variety of dishes, from salad to pasta sauces to pizza. Polenta is a northern Italian substitute for pasta and is often made of cornmeal or potatoes and spices. Rice cakes offer texture, crunch and make a great low calorie snack. Substitute them for your morning toast. Add nut butters, spreads, fruit, preserves or sauces to top them off. Incorporate these foods into your diet and you will look and feel better much sooner than you would think.  These are just some suggestions for an overall weight loss program.