Weight Management: Ten Steps to a Healthy New Year

By Shereen Jegtvig, About.com Guide

Updated March 03, 2013

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When you shop, make a list and stay away from the snack food aisles and the prepackaged foods aisles as much as possible. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, lean meats, fish and legumes. Avoid foods high in saturated fats, sodium, trans-fats and sugar.

Cooking methods are important for healthy nutrition, too:

• Sautéing is better than deep-frying. Frying foods adds fats and calories and doesn't add any nutrition.
• Steam your vegetables instead of boiling them to mush. Steaming will preserve more of the vitamins found in the vegetables.
• When you cook your healthy meals at home, be sure to make a little bit extra to save as leftovers to take to work or school as a healthy lunch the next day.