 Meal Myths
Myth: “I can lose weight while eating whatever I want.”
Fact: To lose weight, you need to
use more calories than you eat. It is possible to eat any kind of food you want
and lose weight. You need to limit the number of calories you eat every day
and/or increase your daily physical activity. Portion control is the key. Try
eating smaller amounts of food and choosing foods that are low in calories.
Tip: When trying to lose weight, you
can still eat your favorite foods—as long as you pay attention to the total
number of calories that you eat.
Myth: Low-fat or nonfat means no calories.
Fact: A low-fat or nonfat
food is often lower in calories than the same size portion of the full-fat
product. But many processed low-fat or nonfat foods have just as many calories as the full-fat version of the same
food or even more calories. They may contain added
sugar, flour, or starch thickeners to improve flavor and texture after fat is
removed. These ingredients add calories.
Tip: Read the Nutrition Facts Label
on a food package to find out how many calories are in a serving. Check the
serving size too it may be less than you are used to eating. For more
information about reading food labels, read the brochure Energize Yourself and
Your Family, from the Weight-control Information Network (WIN) or visit the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) online at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html.
Myth: Fast foods are always an unhealthy choice and
you should not eat them when dieting.
Fact: Fast foods can be part of a
healthy weight-loss program with a little bit of know-how.
Tip: Avoid supersize combo meals, or
split one with a friend. Sip on water or nonfat milk instead of soda. Choose
salads and grilled foods, like a grilled chicken breast sandwich or small
hamburger. Try a “fresco” taco (with salsa instead of cheese or sauce) at taco
stands. Fried foods, like French fries and fried chicken, are high in fat and
calories, so order them only once in a while, order a small portion, or split an
order with a friend. Also, use only small amounts of high-fat, high-calorie
toppings, like regular mayonnaise, salad dressings, bacon, and cheese.
Myth: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.
Fact: Studies show that people who
skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day tend to be heavier than people
who eat a healthy breakfast and eat four or five times a day. This may be
because people who skip meals tend to feel hungrier later on, and eat more than
they normally would. It may also be that eating many small meals throughout the
day helps people control their appetites.
Tip: Eat small meals throughout the
day that include a variety of healthy, low-fat, low-calorie foods. For more
information about healthy eating, read the WIN brochure Healthy Eating
and Physical Activity Across Your Lifespan: Tips for
Adults.
Myth: Eating after 8 p.m. causes weight gain.
Fact: It does not matter what time
of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity
you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain
your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as
fat.
Tip: If you want to have a snack
before bedtime, think first about how many calories you have eaten that day. And
try to avoid snacking in front of the TV at night it may be easier to overeat
when you are distracted by the television.
Weight Loss Nutrition Myths
was originally published on
blackdoctor.org
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