Everyone knows our diets have to be well balanced. However, a well balanced diet is not necessarily a boring diet. Planning is the key. Consult your favourite low fat recipe books and organise your week's meals on the morning you go grocery shopping. Whatever you do, don't shop when you're hungry, as this will result in you buying more food than you need. Stick to your shopping list and savour the feeling of lining up at the checkout with a trolley full of green stuff instead of bad stuff!



It's all about attitude. You can train your mind to think differently about eating, really, you can. Try using small plates when you serve up meals. I'm not being comical, it really works! You'll feel like you're eating more! Also, don't eat your evening meal too late. Eat early and then brush your teeth immediately. For some reason this makes evening cravings dissipate.

It's easy to remember this formula of your daily food requirements: 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit. I find that starting the day with some fruit on my cereal takes care of one of the fruit serves and then I only have to munch on an apple some time during the day to fulfil that requirement. Eating a carrot for morning tea works for me because it takes a long time to chew (and therefore feels like I'm eating more!) plus it takes care of my first vegetable serve.

In our busy lifestyles most of us have developed the nasty habit of eating too quickly. Slow down,it's not a race! The texture and flavour of the food is delightful, notice it, enjoy it! And don't neglect water. If you drink water with every meal and snack, it will fill you up and you will eat less food. Plus it has loads of other benefits. Consider leaving chopped up fruit in the fridge for easy access. It's surprising how many people eat fruit when it's ready to eat and doesn't require peeling and chopping.

When we get together with family and friends, it's usually based around food. We meet together for a meal or a coffee. When we picnic we take loads of food with us, and not always healthy food. Think of creative ways you can arrange get-togethers which do not necessarily involve food. For example, you could go for a long walk: this provides great opportunity for substancial conversations, and rather than consuming calories, you're burning them. Double benefit!

When heading out to social or sporting events, be kind to your body and your budget by packing healthy foods before you go. Most venues stock fast foods which are high in fat. In addition, you often waste previous time as a family by queuing up. If you worry that your kids will be missing out, you could buy them a treat after they've filled up on sandwiches and fruit. By then the smell of hot fries and chips will not seem as irresistable!

In reality, I know no one whose diet meets nutritional requirements every single day. These days everyone is so busy that it's becoming harder and harder. That's why my whole family takes daily health supplements in the form of whey protein shakes or capsules, in order to keep sleek and slender. My wife and I have great peace of mind that our kids are receiving all the vitamins and minerals they need, even on busy days. After walking and sport, I make sure we all have a protein-based shake to help repair and tone muscle. No one here complains about a nice tasting milkshake and we all feel the benefit.

Forget fad diets because they don't last. Forget starving yourself because you wont last! It's about lifestyle choices, organisation and retraining your mind. Try the tricks mentioned here: they work.