Eat at Home

Yep, you heard right. Find your way back to your kitchen.

We know you feel time-stressed and harried. Dining out has become a way of life for many of us. But you are going to find it much more difficult to lose weight if you frequent restaurants and fast food joints.

Even though many eating establishments are trying to convince you that they have “light” offerings on the menu, most are truly not light enough. And once inside, you may find it difficult to ignore the tempting sights and smells of the higher calorie options.

Your favorite dining out experience is likely to include high fat, high-glycemic carbs, with few vegetable or fruit options. Salads and vegetable sides are likely to be covered in dressings or sauces that are full of the wrong kinds of fats. As a rule, portion sizes are way too large in restaurants.

For best weight loss results, you need to eat leaner proteins, smaller portions, and lots of fruits and vegetables. This strategy is easier to follow at home where you are in control of what goes on your plate!

High fat, high calories – these are not the only diet dangers lurking in restaurants. Dining and fast food establishments frequently add flavor enhancers to their offerings, designed to titillate your taste buds. But here’s the rub (pun intended) … some of these contain brain stimulants that trigger hunger. You are likely to eat more. In fact, way too much!

You are also more likely to associate memories of pleasure when you eat that fabulous lasagna or decadent dessert. You are then reinforcing the overeating behavior that you may be desperately trying to stop. The love-hate relationship with food continues.

So, get back to the kitchen. Learn to cook. With a little planning, meal preparation does not have to be time-consuming. Or if you really don’t want to do it yourself, check out these sources for meals delivered right to your door. You may find that having someone else do the work and control your portions may be your best option for weight loss.

Our favorite diet programs, listed below, include great recipes to help you eat healthily at home. We hand-picked these 3 weight loss plans because they all feature whole foods as well as delicious recipes that are simple to prepare.

These 3 programs also feature the principles of a healthy diet – the right carbs, the right fats, lean protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. They steer you away from the wrong foods that trigger weight gain. We think you will be happy with any of their balanced, well-designed menus.

  • The Sonoma Diet offers delicious California cuisine, with recipes and menus that will surely satisfy food lovers. Their online program has hundreds of recipes such as Greek Pizza, Marinated Flank Steak, Bistro Chicken and Garlic, and even desserts like Peachy Berry Cobbler.
  • Jillian Michael’s Online Weight Loss Plan includes a number of recipes that are specific for your metabolic type. Some of her choices include Jillian’s Breakfast Burrito or French Toast for breakfast, Easy Salmon Cakes or Fruity Tuna Salad Pita for lunch, and Peppered Chicken-and-Shrimp Jambalaya or Mexican Lasagna for dinner.
  • The South Beach Diet gives you menus and recipes that range from elegantly simple to simply elegant. From a simple roast beef wrap to Spinach Stuffed Salmon and Lemon-Zest Ricotta Cream, Mediterranean Chicken Salad to Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, your appetite will be satisfied with these easy to prepare recipes.