low carb...low fat...low sodium...low sugar...and on and on and on

One thing that I have always had trouble with is what set of guidelines to use for myself when deciding what to eat. There are so many diets out there and almost all of them direct you to cut out whole groups of foods. What I have come to discover is that while every body reacts differently to food, when it comes down to it, weight loss occurs when you burn more CALORIES than you eat. But, it's not as simple as just eating less, because most people run into a problem when they do this - they get hungry! The power foods are those that are low calorie, yet high in protein or fiber because they keep you full longer. My favorite go to foods that stay true to this concept are yogurt (Greek is the best because it has double the protein of regular yogurt!), apples, cheese (in small amounts), beans, oatmeal, and jerky (beef or turkey). Another great thing about these foods is that their portions can be easily controlled. I am all about eating a serving size or less. I feel like these foods keep me from the snacking that adds on pounds and they are all healthy choices!