As we observe Obesity Awareness Week, it is helpful to think about ways in which we can manage our waistline by making healthy changes to our lifestyle. Most of us would agree that losing weight can be difficult and, as we age, maintaining a healthful weight becomes even more of a challenge.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research conducted on the role of fruits and vegetables in weight management, suggests that a diet which includes an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables may help.
To lose weight, a person must consume fewer calories than he or she expends. However, most of us do not limit what we eat based on calories, but rather from the feeling of satiety (fullness). Fruits and vegetables are foods with low energy density that provide a greater volume of food and fewer calories. In other words, eating more fruits and vegetables can create the feeling of fullness but still provide fewer calories.
The following tips can help us add more fruits and vegetables to our diet and promote healthy weight:
* Add fresh fruit to your cold cereal
* Enjoy a small salad with your lunch
* Cover half of your dinner plate with vegetables, or fruits and vegetables; and
* Remember to enjoy your fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats or sodium.
