Confused by all the diets on the market today? The best advice I can give you is to eat healthy food for weight loss. Fad or crash diets do not work and are not healthy. In fact, they can slow your metabolism and cause further weight gain. The best way to lose weight is to eat the right foods. A good starting place for a balanced diet is the USDA Food Pyramid. Everyone is different so you will need to find the right balance according to your individual needs.

Be sure to include a variety of colors in your diet - red, orange, yellow, green, etc. This way you will be getting the most nutritional value and health benefits from your diet.

One of the best vegetables you can eat is the sweet potato. It is a great source of fiber and loaded with vitamins. Red peppers are another very healthy vegetable - much healthier than green peppers.
Berries are another great food. Blueberries and blackberries are very high in antioxidants. So be sure to eat a variety of berries.

Green tea is a great beverage. It has many health benefits and is high in antioxidants. It can also help increase metabolism and aid in weight loss.

Protein drinks are great as a meal replacement when you are trying to lose weight. Be sure to choose one that is high in protein and vitamins but is low in fat and sugars.

Watch out for extra calories hidden in things like salad dressing, butter, gravy, sauces and condiments. One of the biggest weight loss pitfalls is the fat and calories contained in these items.

In addition to eating healthy food for weight loss, portion control is key. Pay close attention to labels and the size of a serving. The bottom line for weight loss is you have to burn more calories than you consume. You should achieve this with a combination of consuming less calories and increasing your activity so you burn more calories.

It is better to eat 5 or 6 times a day and have small portions than to eat larger portions 2 or 3 times a day. Eating more frequently will help control cravings and blood sugar levels. It also keeps you from feeling so hungry. Eating 5 or 6 times a day will also help to increase your metabolism so you will burn more calories.

In addition to stepping on the scale, you should also take measurements. This is a more accurate indication of whether or not you are losing. You could be burning fat and losing inches but, because you are gaining muscle, the pounds are not changing. So keep track of the inches you are losing and dont be as concerned about the scale.

Even though eating healthy food for weight loss is very important, dont feel like you have to give up the foods you love. The key is everything in moderation. If you have a favorite dessert, go ahead and indulge once in a while. I usually try to increase exercise to work off the extra calories if I have a treat. The worst thing you can do is deprive yourself. That will only lead to resentment and failure. You have to look at the diet as a lifestyle change, not a temporary thing. So dont cut out foods you love, just keep them in moderation.

Vitamins and supplements compliment eating healthy food for weight loss. It is hard to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs in your daily food intake. There are also many herbal supplements that can assist in weight loss such as increasing energy and metabolism so that you burn more calories. You should, of course, consult with your physician regarding your personal needs.

Sue McQueen is a health and wellness consultant. She helps clients achieve optimal wellness through personal programs based on each individual's needs. http://smcqueen.qhealthzone.com