Diet

• Dieting involves cutting back on all or some parts of your usual food intake.
• The aim is to reduce the energy available to your body, so that you’re using more energy than you eat.
• There are diets advertised everywhere. Most of them aren’t very healthy. Some of them are dangerous and can make you seriously unwell.
• 3 important diet principles are
  • Weight-loss should be steady – don’t go too fast. If a diet advertises fast weight-loss, it’s probably not a good idea.
  • The diet should be sustainable – you’ll need to stick to it long-term. If a diet involves leaving out a whole food group (particularly one that you enjoy), it’s probably not healthy and you probably won’t stick with it.
  • Always combine dieting with exercise.

And if you’re looking for more specific diet tips:

• Switch to lean meats like chicken and fish – avoid fattier meats like beef.
• Fill up on fibre – peas, broccoli, sweetcorn, beans, lentils, nuts. Leave the skin on your potatoes. Switch to wholewheat pasta. Switch to wholegrain bread
• Avoid sugar – fizzy drinks and squashes, lollies, biscuits and chocolates.
• Avoid take-away food.
• Switch to low fat options when eating dairy (though check they don’t have added sugar).
• Eat plenty of vegetables.
• Eat plenty of low-sugar fruits like apples, strawberries, blackberries, melon, oranges.
• Reduce your intake of high-sugar fruits like pineapples, mangoes, bananas, cherries, grapes.
• Eat smaller portions, but keep your meals varied.
• Drink less alcohol – this is high in calories.
• And bonus for for residents of Melbourne- avocados are good for you!

Also remember to ask your GP for a referral to a dietitian, and check if your health insurance will pay- many policies specifically offer this.