Diet Tricks You SHOULDN'T Do

There are all sorts of diet tricks out there. I shared 25 of the best diet tricks of all time last year plus a few of my own faves:

Putting your fork down between bites. It works, promise.
Leaving two bites on every plate when you dine in a restaurant. Another winner.

What about so-called diet tricks that don't work? The Huffington Post's Anna Almendrala offers "7 Diet Habits You Should Drop Now" and the suggestions are pretty logical:

Don't skip breakfast - good advice but if you're not hungry, don't stress over it. Do what works for you. I love breakfast. If I'm not hungry, I will at least try to get something in my system like my green smoothie.
Cutting out entire food groups - I mean really. Who can live without bread or cheese fries the rest of their lives? It's ridiculous. It's about moderation and occasional indulgences.
Filling up on diet soda drinks - this is a game changer. From a pure hydration standpoint, you will feel so much better if you avoid diet soda (as well as regular) and quench your thirst with plain water, sparkling water, water infused with fresh fruit or cucumber slices or iced tea.
Thinking about it as a "diet" in the first place - TRUTH!

Your "diet" is your overall approach to eating. If you think about a "quick fix" it won't work. You will fall right back into those bad habits once your calorie-reduced diet ends. Sure, you can jumpstart your weight loss by restricting calories and dropping a few pounds quickly but you must consider how you will MAINTAIN that weight loss once you resume "normal" eating.

The "Diet" That Works For Me

I've said it repeatedly and will say it again: that Mediterranean "diet" is the BOMB. Fish, veggies, fruits, nuts, olive oil, feta cheese, red wine and chocolate. There is nothing "diet" or restrictive about it. It's abundant in its bounties.

The Great Green Smoothie Recipe

Looking for a great way to get some fruit and veggies in your system first thing in the morning? Try my great green smoothie. This one features Almond Breeze almond milk, a banana, frozen berries, spinach and chia seeds.

Kids love it, too. You can hear my daughter, Jordan, saying "Yummy! Smoothie!" in this video. Or at least a 2-year old's version of those words.