Weight Loss Hacks: Always Pair Your Ice Cream with an Apple

Some days you eat salads and go to the gym, some days you eat cupcakes and refuse to put on pants. It's called balance. 

As a dietitian, my golden rule when it comes to weight loss would be to focus on balance. In particular: Every time you want to eat something truly indulgent, pair it with something you know is healthy and good for you. So can you can have your cake? —Sure, as long as you eat something healthier on the side too.

Let's assume your favorite food is pizza. You don't have to cut it from your diet (the agony). Instead, stick to one or two slices, topped with extra veggies, and paired with a light salad, rather than an order of fries or bread sticks.

The key here is to never restrict yourself to the point of labeling food as "good" or "bad" making prohibited foods totally off-limits. When something becomes off-limit, we crave it more, and when you finally reward your "good behavior", you risk overdoing it to the point of reaching disordered eating patterns and yo-yo dieting. I'm personally not the biggest fan of restricting my meals and then going overboard on a cheat day. I think every day that you want to allow yourself a treat, you can mindfully. If you're treating yourself on the regular, you won't need special days devoted to treats. 

Of course, some treats are better than others and my advice would be to try to make sure all food (including treats) are as minimally processed as possible. 

It's also important to recognize that snacks and treats aren't supposed to be your main sources of calories or fuel but rather an energy booster, indulgence or a fair addition to the meal.

So basically, if you want a cookie, have a cookie, but pair it with a few apple slices, bananas or berries; that way, you're having something you want with something you know is good for you. Because, at the end of the day, It's important to have a healthy balanced diet but not to get too bogged down about it. It's important to enjoy your food too because, you know, #balance.