Many sugar-free and reduced-sugar products crowd the shelves at grocery stores. Should you buy these items if you are trying to lead a healthier lifestyle or lose weight? Keep in mind that in order to win the weight loss battle, a calorie deficit must be created. Whether this is accomplished through reduced portion sizes, healthier choices, increased exercise, or ideally a combination of these decisions, you should become more informed of the ongoing debate of the role of sugar free products in your diet. While sugar free products may help in individuals on specific diets, we are understanding that such products may not be the healthiest choice as it may lead to overeating and consumption of empty calories.

Meal replacements are pre-packaged meals intended to make it easier and more efficient for an individual to control his or her portion sizes when trying to lose weight. They are available over-the-counter and are typically fortified with vitamins and minerals, and contain around 300 calories or less per serving.

Many times consumers classify foods as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, or allowed or forbidden. Instead of classifying foods into positive or negative categories, try evaluating them based on nutrient density. Nutrient density refers to the amount of nutrients for the given volume of food; in other words, containing the most nutrition per bite. The opposite of nutrient density is energy density. By definition energy dense foods have more calories per volume and provide few nutrients.

The typical American holiday season begins on Thanksgiving and continues through New Years Day. During this time, a typical American gains 5-10 pounds. With parties to attend, shopping, baking, cleaning, and other holiday related demands, weight loss efforts tend to get reprioritized. This holiday season can be different and you can start by making Thanksgiving dinner a lot healthier. Here are some great Thanksgiving substitutions and recipes without the excess calories and fat.

A Basic Overview of dietary considerations for weight loss.