The “success” of a diet recipe could probably be measured if it achieves the dieter’s chosen health objective or goal: whether it’s to lose weight, control blood sugar or lower cholesterol levels. Other very important factors to consider is if the dish tastes good and if it is easy to prepare using readily sourced out ingredients. After all, what good is a healthy dish if it’s not enjoyable to eat or cannot be prepared?

Though various food companies are committed to creating delicious low-calorie, high-protein, low- or zero-carb dishes, and even have delivery service, to be consuming this for an extended period can become quite expensive. A number of diet plans aggressively marketed on books and TV by celebrities specify dishes to consume, dictate food portion sizes and observe rigid menu combinations. Though the success level of what these programs promise is high, one has to consider what happens after the diet is over? More often than not, after any diet program, the pounds come rolling back in because eating patterns revert to pre-diet eating patterns.

A tip for a more sustainable healthy eating plan is to incorporate the flavors and textures of your favorite dishes with your goal. In this manner, one doesn’t feel like he or she is on a diet and is just eating normally. This results in a more long term benefit. Ideally, there should be options for most if not all meal parts from soups to main courses, appetizers to salads, desserts to beverages so that each works hand in hand with the overall health goal as well as ensure a variety of options. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options should be carefully considered too as the benefits add on to one another if sensible eating is consistently practised throughout the day and not only for one or a couple of meals. A simple way to achieve variety is to just make simple healthy ingredient substitutions so that you still enjoy your favorite food but made better.

Though diets are a widely acceptable way to lose weight and get healthy, it is recommended to make healthier lifestyle changes instead in one’s eating patterns. If this is done, the transition to better living through food consumption is more seamless and long term. However, if one is so used to an unhealthy eating lifestyle, munching on high fat, high-calorie and cholesterol food, go slow and start with incorporating healthier food items gradually rather than do a 180 degree turn.

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