10. Reorganize Your Plate
“Make half your plate vegetables, a quarter of your plate whole grains, and a quarter of your plate lean protein. When you switch the portions of grains and vegetables on your plate, you’ll see a difference. The only caveat: Potatoes, corn, and peas are starchy vegetables, so they go in the grains category.”
— Lainey Younkin, RD, a nutrition counselor and consultant in Boston
11. Start Where You Are and Do What You Can
“Don’t feel like you need to overhaul your entire life starting immediately. Assess where you are currently and then figure out where you’d like to be in the future. A great starting point for people new to exercise is to get a step counter and see how much you walk on a normal day. Then set a step goal slightly higher than the norm and strive for that, working your way up slowly to a goal of 10,000 steps per day.”
— Esther Avant, an online sports nutritionist specializing in weight loss who is based in San Diego
12. Think Big — Not Small
“Focus on the weight loss ‘big rocks’ — there are a few areas that will give you the most bang for your buck when you’re trying to lose weight. Prioritizing those and letting go of all the minutiae that contribute to overwhelm will make reaching your goals feel easier and more sustainable. On the nutrition front, pay attention to calories, protein, and fiber. For exercise, prioritize strength training, daily steps, and recovery.”
— Esther Avant
13. Look Beyond the Scale
“While the scale isn’t useless, it also isn’t the only thing that matters. To help you gauge progress that might not be reflected on the scale, take regular photos and measurements, in addition to keeping a running list of nonscale victories. This will help keep the scale in perspective and show you all the positive changes you’re making to your health and overall lifestyle.”
— Esther Avant
14. Give Your Breakfast a Protein Boost
“Aim for 15 to 25 grams of protein at breakfast. Protein is digested slowly and suppresses hunger hormones, helping keep you full. Additionally, a high-protein breakfast helps curb cravings later in the day. Pair protein-rich foods with fiber and healthy fats, like two eggs with whole-wheat toast and avocado or high-protein frozen waffles with nuts, berries, and a little maple syrup.”
— Lainey Younkin, RD
15. Consume Protein at Every Meal
“Eating protein-rich foods at every meal, especially breakfast, can help shave extra pounds. Protein slows down the digestive process and positively impacts your hunger hormones. Protein can also do better at staving off hunger than carbohydrates. Protein-rich foods include quinoa, edamame, beans, seeds, nuts, eggs, yogurt, cheese, tofu, lentil pasta, poultry, fish, and meat.”
— Christine M. Palumbo, RDN, a nutrition consultant from Naperville, Illinois
16. Try to Eat Mainly Whole, Minimally Processed Foods
“The multiple processing steps and added ingredients are the reason processed foods taste so good and we keep wanting more. They tend to contain large amounts of added sugars, fats, and salt. Research suggests that people can take in up to 500 more calories a day when they’re offered unlimited amounts of ultra-processed foods compared to unprocessed foods.”
— Christine M. Palumbo, RDN
17. Limit High-Glycemic Carbohydrate Foods
“The glycemic index ranks how quickly blood sugar rises after eating a carbohydrate food. Eating high-glycemic carbohydrate foods like pretzels and refined bread, especially when eaten alone, will cause a surge in blood sugar, followed by a quick drop. This may leave you feeling hungry and wanting more food. More long-term studies are needed,
but some short-term studies suggest there is a connection.
High-glycemic foods are not totally off-limits though. When you work with a registered dietitian-nutritionist, we provide individualized ways to help you balance nutrients to prevent spikes in blood sugar, which can help with curbing appetite.”
— Sue-Ellen Anderson Haynes, RDN, CDCES, a certified personal trainer and national media spokesperson of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who is based in Boston
18. Experiment With Fruits at Dessert Time
“Fruits are low in calories and carry tons of nutrients like antioxidants and fiber. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 12 percent of the U.S. population is meeting their fruit intake and only 10 percent is meeting their vegetable intake.
Using fruits for dessert will help you meet your daily requirements but also add flavor to your day. Many fruits can be sauteed, grilled, or baked. For example, a grilled peach topped with vanilla yogurt and shaved almonds is amazing!”
— Sue-Ellen Anderson Haynes, RDN, CDCES
19. Eat a Large Breakfast and a Small Dinner
“You’ll want to take in more of your calories earlier in the day. A study published in 2019 found that subjects who were given small breakfasts and large dinners lost significantly less weight than those assigned to a large breakfast and a smaller dinner.
So smaller meals in the latter part of the day may be an advantage to those who want to lose weight and improve overall health. However, each person has individual needs, which may require additional snacks and food, such as those who are pregnant, are breastfeeding, have diabetes, or take medication that require certain foods. This is why it is so important that you seek a consultation with a registered dietitian-nutritionist.”
— Sue-Ellen Anderson Haynes, RDN, CDCES
20. Get Into Meal Planning
“Meal planning is one of my top tips for staying healthy and eating well. I’m such a fan of the concept that I wrote a book about it! Taking 5 to 10 minutes over the weekend to write out a menu for the week ahead will save you time, money, and unwanted calories down the road. Not sure what to make for dinner tonight? No worries, it’s already on your menu plan. Menu planning is a great way to stay organized, and know what groceries you need to buy and what you already have on hand, and it will help ensure a balanced plate. Keep in mind, a night off from cooking and ordering takeout or making a frozen meal is a totally acceptable part of the menu plan. And be sure to write down the plan — you’re more likely to stick to it if it’s in front of you as a reminder.”
— Jessica Levinson, RDN, a culinary nutrition and communications dietitian based in Westchester County, New York
21. Make a Grocery List and Stick to It
“Once you have your menu planned for the week, make a shopping list either on paper or on your phone — I use Notes, but there are apps for this, too. Knowing in advance what you need to purchase at the supermarket will save you time, reduce food waste, and prevent you from purchasing items that look appealing but you don’t actually need. To stick with your list, avoid shopping when hungry. Research shows an increase in impulsive behavior at that time.”
— Jessica Levinson, RDN
22. Take Stock of What’s in Your Kitchen
“To cook healthy meals you need the right ingredients and kitchen tools on hand. Some staple ingredients I recommend having in your pantry, fridge, and freezer are low-sodium canned beans, canned fish, tomato sauce, whole-grain pasta, quinoa, brown rice, low-sodium stock, low-fat plain yogurt, a variety of fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, olive oil, and dried herbs and spices. These are just some of the ingredients that can form the base of a healthy and delicious meal.”
— Jessica Levinson, RDN
23. Have the Right Tools on Hand
“Similarly, having a good mix of kitchen tools can help ensure easy, efficient, and healthy cooking. For example, a seasoned cast-iron skillet is one of my favorite pans to cook eggs, saute vegetables, and make pancakes, since I don’t have to use as much oil or butter to keep food from sticking. Some of my other favorite kitchen tools are an immersion blender, Instant Pot, baking sheets, measuring cups and spoons, and a hand juicer. And of course anyone working in the kitchen should have a quality set of knives.”
— Jessica Levinson, RDN
24. Read Food Labels
“Getting into the habit of flipping your packages over can save you time, money, and even calories. Food labels give you a clear picture of what you’re really getting and if you want to lose weight healthfully, it’s not just about how many calories you’re getting — it’s also about what kind of calories you’re getting. To make sure that your meals are valuable, be sure that you’re getting a balance of nutrients without overdoing sodium, sugar, and saturated fat.”
— Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, author of Read It Before You Eat It — Taking You from Label to Table
25. Choose Super Snacks
“It’s best to look at your snacks as mini-meals. We are snacking more than ever, so it’s best to choose snacks with benefits, like almond butter and a sliced apple or Greek yogurt topped with fruit and a high fiber cereal. It’s not easy to get everything you need in a day, so nutritionally rich snacks can help fill that gap while also making you feel more full and satisfied.”
— Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN
The Takeaway
As the experts have noted, there are many effective ways to lose weight. The right way for you depends on your individual goals and preferences. Remember that small changes can make a big difference. And it may take some experimentation to find out which tips work best for you.
Along with dietary changes and meal planning, it may also be helpful to identify why you are trying to make a change, to embrace setbacks, and to get support from friends or family.
