Here is the second part of the diet pitfalls article I wrote a few weeks before. In the previous article I talked about how to turn your weaknesses for certain foods into strengths by minimizing your portions and substituting unhealthy items for good ones. Here are a few more suggestions.

Snack Attackers

What can I say? Almost everyone I know has a craving for snack foods once in a while. However there are those of us who I would consider to be junk food junkies. No matter who you are, the key to slimming down while eating junk food is simple. Don’t eat the whole bag! Instead of buying the mega size snack bag you can control your portion size by buying a single serving size of chips, sugary cereals, or candy bars.

You could also make healthier choices when it comes to “junk foods”. Choose a box of granola instead of sugary cereals. Next time buy yourself a burrito not a hot dog. Try toasted pita chips and salsa instead of potato chips and dip. But remember, baked chips won’t save you any calories if you consume a large bag. So watch your portions.

For those who don’t have time for breakfast, avoid starting your day with doughnuts or pastries. Sugary snacks can make you feel hungry again very quickly. If you must have one, make sure you have a healthy food with it such as a piece of fruit.

Dessert Lovers

Those with a sweet tooth can satisfy their cravings with fewer calories by making better choices. Most fruits and some vegetables are naturally sweet, so make sure you take advantage of these low calorie treats.

Fresh fruit such as mango and banana tend to be thick, creamy, and as a result, very filling. Grapes and strawberries can be frozen and make a great snack that lasts longer and tastes sweeter. Sweets such as chocolate, cheesecake, ice cream can be eaten too, in moderate amounts that is. If you keep portions small, you can have 100 to 200 calories of dessert every day.

Take Out Orderers

When it comes to ordering take out, what you do with the meal makes all the difference. For example, if you only order pizza, it’s easy to wolf down three or four slices at a time. Next time, prepare yourself a nice homemade salad. You’ll eat less.

Ordering Chinese food? Just transfer your food from the container to a plate and leave the extra sauces (and calories) in the bag. Instead of filling your plate with too much of one thing, try eating four 1/2-cup portions of everything you want to eat. That way, you’ll get a more appetizing variety of meats, vegetables, and starches, along with colors, nutrients, and calories.