Diets Using Normal Foods

You do not need to spend a lot of money on special foods in order to go on a diet and lose weight. You can eat most of the same foods that your family eats and that you can easily buy at the grocery store. To lose weight, you need to limit portion sizes of high calorie foods and eat more foods that are filling and nutritious yet have a moderate calorie count.

Low Carb

You can go on a low carb diet to lose weight by eating normal foods. There are specialty brands you can buy, but these are more expensive and you don't really need them. When you eat a low carb diet, you eliminate or strictly limit foods that are high in carbohydrates or are made with refined carbs. This means you eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, meat, fish and dairy products. When you do buy carbohydrate-based foods, choose those made from whole grains like whole wheat bread, oatmeal and whole grain pasta.

Low Fat

It is quite easy to go on a low fat diet while eating normal foods. Natural foods are sometimes better than specialty low fat foods. In fact, be careful when you buy packaged food that is marked as low fat. Low fat packaged foods are sometimes still high in calories since other ingredients have been added to enhance the taste. To eat a low fat diet, choose lean meat and be sure to cut off any visible fat before you cook it. Cook meat in such a way that the fat drains away, like on a rotisserie or rack. When possible, cook your meals in advance and let them cool so you can scrape away hardened fat instead of eating it. Remove the skin from your chicken before you eat it. Choose reduced fat or fat free milk and cheeses in order to eliminate unnecessary fat.

Reduced Calories

Change the types of food that you eat so you consume larger quantities of low calorie food and smaller quantities of high calorie foods. Keep hunger at bay by eating raw fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Add more cooked vegetables to your diet and eliminate calories from bread and sweets. Changing your habits can reduce your calories too. Instead of using melted butter or oil on your popcorn, prepare the popcorn in a hot air popper and lightly spray with a butter spray. Give up calorie-laden drinks like soda and drink water instead.