1. Create a yummy low fat mayonnaise by combining one teaspoon of Dijon mustard or satay sauce along with some low fat yogurt.
2. Don't skip meals. Skipping meals can trick the body into slowing down it's metabolism, by the body trying to conserve calories during a period where limited fats and fuel are available. Remember that eating increases the metabolism.
3. Fill vegetables like capsicum and zucchini with flavored fillings or minced chicken, white meat or fish. These contain low fat and are healthy.
4. Take wraps with salad fillings or pita bread roll ups.
5. Eight hours after we wake up, our metabolism slows down, which is why 30 minutes of exercise before dinner will increase the metabolism for about two or three hours. This produces an increase in burned fat, even hours after we are done working out.
6. Add some alfalfa or mung beans to salad to get some extra iron.
7. Good cooking and healthy eating starts out with learning about nutrition and how to make healthy recipes.
8. Find out how to make your families favorite recipes and make sure that fats, salt, and sugar are cut out. Substitute non-fat yogurt for cream, stir-fry without oil, and use herbs and spices instead of salt to taste.
9. Talk to your doctor before you start an exercise or weight loss program.
10. Eat slowly and chew each bite during meals, as this will decrease one's appetite.
11. Have three small meals and two snacks everyday instead of having one or two big huge meals.
12. Use chicken stock when stir-frying to let you cut down on hidden fat.
13. Get non-toasted muesli instead of the toasted ones. A plate of toasted muesli has more fat than a plate of bacon and eggs has.
14. As much as possible, don't remove the skins of fruits and vegetables. Most of the nutrients are concentrated right under that skin.
15. Warm water with a little squeeze of lemon juice right before breakfast, to get the metabolism going for the day. This will also help prevent constipation and is very good for the skin.
16. One of the greatest sources of vegetable protein is from soya beans or tofu. All legumes have some protein, so include lentils, lima beans etc into those casseroles and soups.
17. Look for a weight loss "buddy," club, or support mates. This will encourage you to stay and enjoy that weight loss program.
18. Even though it's hard at first, try not to eat 3 hours or less before you go to bed.
19. Make pasta a fast food choice - preparation will only take 10-12 minutes.
20. Chilli will help you speed up metabolism - even the milder varieties do.
21. Try making omelettes without adding any yolks! This generates a big drop in fat.
22. When you are cooking, substitute baking soda, baking powder, MSG and soya sauce.
23. When baking, you can remove fat by dropping ice cubes into the baking tray. The fat will stick to the ice cubes.
24. Simply drinking hot water instead of cold water in the morning can increase your metabolism and burn more calories.
25. Eat right before you go food shopping and always bring a shopping list. Only buy foods which relates to your weekly menu plan, and don't be tempted to buy those goodies. Don't do impulse buying.
Make sure that the right discipline is being practiced to promote consistency on your diet plan. This will eventually lead to a healthy life-style and a more healthy living without that extra fat and extra pounds on the side.