Easy Holiday Diet Tips

Dieting is something that most of us will need to think about at some time or another. Whether you are looking for post-holiday diet tips for eliminating the excess pounds gained from your holiday indulgences, or a longer term strategy for keeping the weight off, learning more about the diet solution program is definitely a good idea. There are hundreds of different diets to choose from but very few actually work.

Overly strict diets mean it is difficult to stick to the limited list of foods you can eat and if you are hungry all the time you are sure to feel miserable. There are also diets which cut out all your favorite foods and these can be tough to follow as well. The diet solution program is based on eating a wide range of nutritious, satisfying foods, minimizing your intake of specific foods which do nothing for you except make you fat, and matching your diet plan to your body type.

One thing that most experts agree on is that fish is a very nutritious choice and a great food to include in your diet plan. Many diet plans for weight loss will include at least a few fish recipes because fish tends to be low in fat and calories and is a healthy alternative to red meat. Not all fish recipes are healthy, of course, but if you choose steamed, poached, or baked mahi mahi recipes, for example, over deep fried cod or pan-fried fish in butter or oil, you are on the right path. The following recipe is one of the tastiest mahi mahi recipes because the spice mix forms a crispy coating and adds lots of flavor to the fish. You can dry-fry the fish too; this recipe does not require butter or oil.

Blackened Mahi Mahi with Couscous and Green Beans

Ingredients -

2 filets mahi mahi
Cumin
Cayenne pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Paprika
Oregano
Salt and black pepper
Couscous
Water, as needed
1 handful green beans
½ sliced yellow onion
4 lemon slices, for garnish
2 tablespoons low fat ranch dressing, or similar
3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, plus extra for garnish

Preparation:

Combine a pinch of each spice in a bowl and pat a generous layer on to both sides of the mahi mahi filets.

Heat a heavy skillet until it is very hot.

Add some cooking spray to the pan if you want to, although it is not necessary.

Put the mahi mahi filets in the pan and put the lid on.

Leave it for a few minutes (do not touch it!) or until a crust has formed on the bottom.

Flip the mahi mahi filets over and leave them in the pan until the filets have cooked right through.

Trim the ends off the green beans.

Put a steamer basket over a pan of boiling water and arrange the beans and onions in the steamer.

Steam for 5 minutes or until tender.

While the fish and vegetables cook, follow the directions on the package of couscous to make 2 servings, adding the parsley to the mixture.

Serve the fish on top of the couscous and arrange the onions on top.

Arrange the green beans around the outside and garnish each plate with a couple of lemon slices and a scoop of low fat dressing.

Grind some black pepper over the beans and scatter some chopped fresh parsley over the meal, if you like.

(Serves 2)

It can be difficult to know how to diet for the best results. Rather than following a severely limited diet plan which promises you will lose ten pounds in ten days (or something similar), it makes sense to find diet plans for weight loss which promise gradual weight loss. The problem with fad diets which allow you to lose a lot of weight very fast is that the weight coming off is mainly water weight. Such diets are also impossible to stick to because they are so limiting. The best diets for quick weight loss are not the same diets that allow you to lose the weight steadily and keep it off, which is preferable because it means you can lose weight permanently, not just temporarily.

Good diet plans for weight loss will allow you quite a bit of freedom in what you eat and not ban too many foods. For example, perhaps you enjoy the occasional glass of red wine or you like creamy salad recipes like a cucumber shrimp salad. The following recipe shows you how to create this delicious snack the healthy way, by using reduced fat sour cream and cream cheese rather than mayonnaise. This slashes the calorie and fat count without affecting the flavor or creamy texture.

Cucumber and shrimp are already low in fat and calories and the dill weed and parsley adds color and delicious flavor to this already nutritious dish. You can serve our cucumber shrimp salad recipe by itself or with some crackers or vegetable crudités (try strips of raw carrot or raw bell pepper).

The Best Cucumber Shrimp Salad Recipe

Ingredients -

¾ cup low fat sour cream
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
6 oz cooked small shrimp
4 oz low fat cream cheese
¾ cup diced cucumber
2 sprigs fresh parsley, for garnish

Preparation:

Beat the cream cheese with the salt, sour cream and half the dill weed in a bowl until everything is well combined.

Stir in the shrimp and cucumber and chill for an hour.

Garnish with the remaining dill weed and fresh parsley and serve.

(Serves 2)

Water is vital to survival and it is a fact that most people are dehydrated. If you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. More than half your body weight is water and the body cannot survive for more than a few days without it. Your blood requires oxygen to transport your blood cells around your body. If you could not do that, the blood cells would die and your body would stop working.

How Much Water Should You Drink?

You should find out your body weight in pounds and drink half that amount in ounces per day. For example, if you weigh one hundred and fifty pounds, you should drink seventy five ounces of water per day, which works out as about four and a half pints. People who live in very hot climates or who sweat a lot through exercise might need more.

Drinking water helps us to digest our food and flush toxins out of our bodies, and it also helps to fill us up. Drink a cup of water half an hour before dinner and your appetite will be slightly decreased. Perhaps you were not aware that some holiday diet tips could be as easy as this one.

Whether you use water filters or drink bottled water or water directly from the faucet is up to you. Some people live in areas where the water is very hard and has an unpleasant flavor. If this sounds like where you live, you can drink bottled water or use water filters. A splash of fruit juice or sugar-free cordial in your water can make it taste better too.

Many of the best diets for quick weight loss include chicken or similar low-fat meats. Skinless, boneless chicken breasts are a wonderful source of protein and marinating them in citrus juice and garlic, like in the following grilled chicken breasts recipe, means you can infuse the meat with flavor without having to add cream, butter or other fattening ingredients. Grilled chicken breasts recipes have the added advantage of the smoky taste that charcoal grills can give to food. Grilling food is a healthy cooking method because any excess fat usually drips out of the meat (unlike in a pan where the fat just stays in the pan) and chicken does especially well when you grill it.

The mango salsa recipe goes beautifully with grilled chicken breast recipes and it is very easy to make as well. Forget buying readymade salsas recipes and in fact any other readymade sauces. There is no point in buying readymade salsas, sauces or dips because they work out more expensive than making your own. In addition they do not taste anywhere near as good as a homemade mango salsa recipe and most readymade sauces are high in sugar, fat or unnecessary additives, making them a poor choice.

The chicken in this recipe is marinated in garlic and lime and the mango salsa contains bell pepper, tomatoes, and chili pepper. You can use as much or as little Serrano chili as you want, depending how spicy you like your mango salsa recipes.

A Healthy Grilled Chicken Recipe with Fruity Salsa

Ingredients -

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 garlic cloves
Juice from 2 limes
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
2 peeled, chopped mangoes
½ chopped red bell pepper
½ chopped green bell pepper
3 chopped tomatoes
½ finely diced Serrano chili pepper
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Spray oil, as needed

Preparation:

Marinate the chicken in the garlic and half the lime juice in a Ziploc bag for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.

You can leave it in the refrigerator overnight if you like, for a stronger flavor.

Combine the remaining lime juice with the mango, bell pepper, tomatoes, Serrano chili, salt and pepper to make the salsa.

Set the salsa to one side, to allow the flavors to blend.

Heat up the grill and spray some oil on the grate.

Cook the chicken breasts over a medium-low heat until they are no longer pink inside.

Serve the chicken breasts with the mango salsa and garnish with the cilantro.

(Serves 4)

Organic food is produced using natural methods. This means it is free of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and chemical food additives. Organic food is free from genetically modified organisms and no irradiation is used to process it. Synthetic chemicals have only been used in the past hundred years so technically, before that time, all food was organic.

No Dangerous Chemicals

Did you know that a non-organic apple has, on average, twenty five poisonous chemicals in its skin and most of them stay after you rinse the apple? Not only would an organic apple be free from these but also organic food is higher in micro-nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes than non-organic food.

Intensively-reared cattle and farm animals consume anti-parasite drugs, antibiotics, growth hormones and lots more chemicals. These drugs are passed through into the animal's flesh, eggs, or milk, which means you consume them too, unless you choose organic food. This is clearly no part of a healthy weight loss plan.

A Superior Flavor

Organic food tastes better than non-organic food. Vegetables and fruit are more aromatic, juicier, and richer in taste and there is plenty of choice. Many people shy away from organic food, assuming it costs much more than non-organic but that is not always the case.

Sometimes it is worth spending an extra few cents on organic food anyway, just to get the better flavor and the superior food quality. Knowing the benefits of organic food can help you to make good choices with your vegetables, fruit, grains, meat, and dairy products.

The word "organic" might confuse some people but it is quite easy to understand. This word refers to the way farmers grow agricultural products like vegetables, grains, fruits, meat and dairy products. Organic farming encourages water and soil conservation while reducing pollution.

Organic farmers do not use chemicals to control their crops, prevent disease, or fertilize. Instead they choose to use natural methods. The most important foods to buy organically are baby food, strawberries, bell peppers, bananas, milk, oats, rice, apples, peaches, and green beans, because of the amount of chemicals found on the non-organic versions.

Here are some other differences between organic and inorganic food farming:

Animal Feed - Conventional farmers give their animals growth hormones, antibiotics, and medications to spur their growth and prevent disease. Organic farmers prefer to allow their animals outdoor access and give them organic feed. They also take preventative steps like clean housing, a balanced diet, and rotational grazing to minimize the chances of disease.

Herbicides - Conventional farmers use herbicides to control weeds. Organic farmers remove weeds by hand, use mulch to control them or rotate their crops.

Fertilizing - Conventional farmers use chemical fertilizers to make their plants grow. Organic farmers prefer to use natural fertilizers to feed their plants. Examples include compost and manure.

Insecticides - Conventional farmers spray insecticides on their plants to reduce disease and pests. Organic farmers use beneficial birds or insects. They also disrupt mating and might use traps to catch pests.

Curry recipes feature in many diet plans because making a curry is a great way of combining fat-free or virtually calorie-free ingredients with a healthy sauce to make something really flavorful. If you use just vegetables, spices and some kind of broth as your base, your curry will barely have any calories or fat at all. The problem with such a recipe is that it is not very satisfying.

To make a curry satisfying you need to feature some kind of starch or grain, and that is why the following quinoa curry recipe is so good. Whether you choose to use quinoa, rice, potatoes or another grain in your healthy curry recipes, the grain or starch will bulk out the curry, making it tastier and keeping you satisfied for longer. Curry features in many of the best diets for quick weight loss and you can tailor the results to your own personal preferences. If you want a very mild, fragrant curry, you can make that. If you like rich, spicy curries, you can increase the amount of curry powder or add some cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the mix.

The following recipe features cashews, low fat or fat-free yogurt (a great alternative to cream, for dieters), vegetables and more. You can serve it with mango chutney, naan bread and cucumber salad if you like and this healthy quinoa curry recipe is sure to satisfy your hunger pangs.

Quinoa Curry with Veggies and Nuts

Ingredients -

1 cup rinsed quinoa
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
1 ½ tablespoons mild curry powder
1 ½ tablespoons canola oil
1 diced seedless cucumber
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
2 minced garlic cloves
1 sliced onion
¾ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup reduced fat Greek yogurt
¾ lb green beans
14 ½ oz vegetable broth
4 peeled, sliced carrots
Small handful roasted cashew nuts
1 cauliflower, in 1 inch florets
8 oz diced baked tofu
Mango chutney and warm naan bread, to serve

Preparation:

Boil the quinoa in water for 6 minutes.

Add the green beans and cook for 5 more minutes or until the quinoa is tender but still slightly crunchy and the beans are tender.

Drain the quinoa and beans and leave them in the sieve.

Sprinkle some salt over the cucumber and drain it between two paper towels.

Toast the cumin seeds in a nonstick pan for a few minutes or until they are fragrant.

Toss them with the cucumber, ¼ of the cilantro and ½ the yogurt.

Add the oil to the skillet and add the curry powder. Cook for 30 seconds.

Add the carrots, tofu, and cauliflower and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the broth and cashews and bring the mixture to a boil.

Cover the pot, turn the heat down, and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in the rest of the cilantro and yogurt and fold in the green beans and quinoa.

Serve the quinoa vegetable curry with the cucumber salad, the mango chutney, and some warm naan bread.

(Serves 4)

Holiday diet tips include eating well and not starving yourself. If you think this sounds like what you were doing before, you might like to compare the foods that made you put on weight with your new diet plan. Learning how to diet is about portion size, the types of foods you put into your body and what your own body needs. Some people eat a lot more than others yet remain slim. Some people reduce their fat intake and find that works for them. Others reduce their carb intake and find that suits them better. There is a good diet plan for you, regardless of your body type; you just have to find out what works for you.

The following recipe is rich in nutrients and contains spaghetti squash, spinach, and watercress, orange and other healthy ingredients. This recipe also contains olive oil which is healthy when used in moderation. One of the best holiday diet tips is not to deprive yourself of anything.

Even if you are reducing the amount of fat you consume, you still need to eat "good" fats like olive oil. The body converts good fats into energy. You do not need "bad" fats like the saturated fats you find in a lot of processed food, but olive oil is good for you when consumed in moderation.

Italian Vegetables with a Basil and Pecan Pesto Recipe

Ingredients -

1 spaghetti squash
2 garlic cloves
¼ cup pecans
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup snipped chives
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 handful watercress
1 teaspoon orange zest
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon ground red chili flakes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
6 fresh basil sprigs, for garnish
Cooking spray, as needed
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and use a spoon to remove the seeds.

Lay it skin side down in a baking dish and spray cooking spray over the flesh.

Sprinkle salt and pepper over it and add ½ inch water to the baking dish.

Bake for about 40 minutes or until the squash is tender and will scoop out of the shell.

Let the squash cool a bit.

Pulse the pecans and garlic in a food processor for a few seconds.

Add the spinach, chives and orange zest and process the mixture into a paste.

Drizzle the oil in slowly, and then add the cheese and process again.

Add salt and pepper to taste (not too much because the squash is already seasoned).

Scoop the warm squash out of the shell and toss it with the orange juice, red chili flakes, and balsamic vinegar.

Toss the pesto and spaghetti squash together until the texture is to your liking.

Garnish with some fresh basil leaves and serve.

(Serves 6)

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Learning more about healthy eating is a great way to start your diet plan off well. Any list of holiday diet tips is handy to read if you want to lose a few pounds and knowing how to diet in the most effective way means knowing what you can and cannot eat, and how much of it you should eat.

One of the most important things is water. You should drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Dehydration can make you sluggish and sleepy. It can also make you crave carbs or sugary foods. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger so instead of reaching for a snack, have a glass of water instead and see how you feel. Sugar is addictive and if you reach for a snack instead of a glass of water, you will be hungry again soon after.

How to Flavor Your Healthy Recipes

No list of healthy diet tips is complete without telling you how to add flavor to your food. A lot of people rely on salt, cream, butter and other unhealthy seasonings. Investigate the world of spices and herbs. You can use any spices to add flavor to your foods and fresh herbs are great as well. If you are using tamari or soy sauce, check for wheat-free versions, because they are better for you.

Reducing your fat or carb intake is easier if you are aware of which foods contain fat or carbs and how much of these different foods give you. Some foods offer both protein and carbs or both fat and carbs. If you are eating beans for protein, choose something else for carbs. Keep your diet varied and interesting and you will find it far easier to stick to. Bear in mind there are "good" fats and "bad" fats. Saturated fats are especially bad for you so choose coconut oil or olive oil for your cooking.

Many people eat prepackaged "health foods" and wonder why the weight is not coming off. The best way to lose weight is to enjoy healthy fresh fruit and make your own healthy recipes. Eat a balanced diet which includes some carbs, some fats and plenty of vitamins, minerals and roughage, and you will soon lose those unwanted extra inches.