Everyone wants quick fixes to make themselves healthier which encourages the success of these diet fads. Unfortunately these fads are doomed to failure for several reasons; they are too strict making them hard to stick to, particularly if you're travelling or visiting friends, and they force your body into survival mode causing it to more readily store food as fat in case you decide to fast again.

A far more practical and actually healthier way to improve your diet is to make little alterations and overtime create one that will help you reach your health and fitness goals. The following suggestions are minor changes that will help you to slowly overhaul your diet without making any drastic changes to your lifestyle. Once you've managed to incorporate these ideas you should feel healthier and fitter than before and you can start making more alterations of your own. Read on.

1 - Cut out the sugar

Obviously I'm not suggesting you entirely cut out sugar, but rather that you specifically cut it out when drinking tea and coffee. And when I say cut out I mean completely - not even sweatner is allowed. The reason for this is that cutting sugar out of your drinks will not only lessen calories, but will also kill your sweat tooth and as you begin to find sugary tea sickly so too will cake and chocolate seem too much in large doses. Sugar on cereal is also a no-no and though this may seem bland at first you'll be surprised at how quickly you begin to prefer things without extra sugar.

2 - Cut out the butter

And by butter I mean margarine and all related products too. Butter is just fat and not particularly good fat at that (a little rhyme for you there). There are lots of alternatives to butter such as Marmite, tuna paste, jam or ham and like the sugar-less tea it's just a matter of getting used to it.

3 - Cut out the oil

When cooking there is never a need to fill a sauce-pan with oil before you cook meat. Mince and bacon are already fatty enough and this will become evident as you cook. If you're worried about food sticking to the pan then put sauces or onions in first to lubricate it. Admittedly fat brings out the flavour in many dishes but there are other healthier ways to give your food a kick (vodka).

4 - Cut out the goodies

Well what I really meant here was 'limit goodies', it's just that I had a 'cut out the...' thing going on. You understand. Sure one chocolate bar or slice of cake at the end of the day is acceptable, but it really should only be limited to one. If you do get a craving during the day then there is a simple solution: raisins. They are just as sweat and tasty as say jelly babies but they carry much less fat, count as a portion of fruit, and are a great source of energy. Other healthier alternatives are grapes, yogurt, cereal or bread with thinly spread peanut butter.

Mack LeMouse

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