What to eat to lose weight is a question most dieters ask at some point. It is so easy to get confused given the amount of miss-information available.




In order to lose weight you need to consume fewer calories than you are using. The best solution is to combine an exercise program with a diet as dieting alone will not have the same results.





Some people especially men seem to think that if you exercise enough, you can eat what you like, but this is an urban myth. Unless you are careful you could end up with heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses as well as having a weight problem. Yes! Exercise can make you hungry but that is not an excuse to chow down on fast food and snacks.





So what is the answer to the question what to eat to lose weight? You should eat something from all the food groups every day but in proper proportions. The food groups are as follows:





1) Fruit and Vegetables



2) Carbohydrates or starches



3) Protein



4) Dairy products



5) Foods containing fats and sugars.





Most of your food should come from the first group. Fruit and vegetables are great for people trying to lose weight as they help to fill you up without adding on loads of calories. They are also great for your skin, your hair and your general wellbeing. You need to try and vary the quantity; colour and type that you eat as eating carrots every day will soon become rather boring.





If you do not like raw vegetables try making homemade soup. If you make the soup from scratch and use spices and herbs instead of salt, you can make a very filling meal with very few calories. You should try and start your lunch and dinner with either a soup or salad as you will end up slimmer.





You need carbohydrates in order to get vital B vitamins and nutrients. Switch from white products such as bread, pasta and rice to the wholegrain or wholemeal varieties. Aim to eat your carb allocation as close to morning as possible so that you get a chance to consume the glucose released by these foods. Glucose converts to fat if it is not used up.





Proteins provide essential amino acids so are vital to your diet. You do not need a lot of protein and the best sources are lean meat, fish and sprouting beans. Eating a dinner made of protein and vegetables will help you to lose weight. In fact never eating protein and starches in the same meal will have a huge impact on the number of pounds you lose.





Dairy products are a great source of calcium and thus should never be fully excluded unless you have an allergy. The final group is the “bad” foods. While you shouldn’t consume much of these products, a little now and again will help to stop you feeling deprived. This may help you to stick to the diet a little longer. You now have the answer to the question of what to eat to lose weight.