Too busy to cook? Not a natural chef? Read on for several no-cook diet tips to help shed those unwanted pounds.
Easy Add-Ons
Courtesy of Nicole Cormier RD, LDN (Delicious Living Nutrition, Middleboro, MA).
Serve leftovers over a bed of spinach.
Wrap a banana and natural peanut butter in a whole wheat wrap or pita.
Add store-bought hard-boiled eggs to a spinach salad with cucumbers, onion, yellow peppers.
Back to Basics
Courtesy of Beth Ellen DiLuglio, Nutrition Educator (Florida)
Try a minimum of one large leafy green salad per day with at least three different colorful veggies added. These, along with some fruits/grapes and raw pumpkin/sunflower seeds or raw nuts are great for introducing people to healthy, no-cook foods.
Halve Your Sandwich
Instantly lower calories in a meal by preparing sandwich favorites as "open-faced" meaning that you omit the usual top layer of bread.
Smart Smoothies
Any time of the day, a smoothie can be a great way to enjoy several fruits at once. Use non-fat cow's milk, almond, or soy milk and experiment between fresh and frozen fruits. Add a teaspoon of flax seed or a tablespoon of wheat germ to help keep you fuller longer in the day.
