You may be eating a processed food diet to lose weight because it's more convenient, less stressful, or because you don't have time to cook healthy. Whatever the reason, you have to be smart about your processed food choices or risk making your weightloss journey a very long and unsuccesful one. Check the list below to see if you're making one of these top diet mistakes then get tips on how to correct them.
1. Insuffucient Calories
Having low calorie frozen meals, single serving soups, or low calorie snack packs may seem like a great way to control portions and calories but for most people deprivation typically leads to binge eating and overindulging. Fix: If you are going to have a low calorie food then try adding a complimentary food. For example add a handful of almonds to your chocolate chip cookie snack pack, add 1/2 a tuna on whole grain sandwich to your single serving tomato soup, or some extra chicken to your low cal frozen dinner.
2. Too Low Fat
Low fat is good but are you getting the fats that you do need from other foods? If you're like most people you're diet is probably deficient in omega 3, 6 and 9 which are actually important for fat burning. Good fats also increases satisfaction for longer periods of time so that means less overeating. Fix: If you're eating too low fat try sprinkling flaxseeds on your cereal, adding natural peanut butter to your crackers, or adding walnuts to a salad. It doesn't take much healthy fat to improve fat burning and prevent overeating.
3. Too Much Artificial Sugar
Sugar free food is great but when you constantly eat or drink foods that contain artificial sugar you are short circuiting your body's ability to feel full and satisfied so you end up eating more of those foods and increasing your calorie intake without being aware of it. Fix:Try more natural sources of sugar organic dates and raisins in your cereal, honey in your iced tea, or a sprinkle of cocoa powder, cinammon, and real sugar to your popcorn. You'll get more satisfaction from real sources and eat less calories and overall added sugar (artificial or not).
4. Insufficient Fiber
Compare the fiber content of real food and packaged food and you'll soon learn how deficient in fiber packaged foods are regardless of packaging claims. A fiber difficient diet leads to digestive problems and it inhibits your body's ability to cleanse and detoxify which is crucial for weightloss. Fix: Best way to get fiber are to get 9-12 servings of veggies and fruits a day. If you can't do that then try 100% organic psyllium like the product below.
Psyllium Husk Caps by NOW Foods - Digestive Support (1.5g - 500 Capsules)
5. Lack of Vital Nutrients
Even if you are doing all the above chances are your intake of vital nutrients is still low simply because most processed food isn't grown in the best quality conditions so it's deficient in all kind of nutrients that it should have. Fix: Best way to boost nutrients is to choose organic foods, add a super multi-vitamin like the one below, or use meal replacements with added vitamins, minerals, and herbs.
Alive! Whole Food Multi 180T
