SPRINGER: Fitness: Keep variety in your diet

No matter how you attack it, dieting is rarely fun.

It is very easy to find yourself eating the same foods every day. This leads to boredom and also increase the chances that you will eventually "cheat" or blow off your whole program entirely.

Take the time to diversify your diet with these easy tips. Adding in a variety of foods will break you away from your go-to foods and maybe even add staying power to your diet.

There are several diet books out there that have people eating for their body types or eating foods in certain combinations.

One of the easiest ways to change up your diet is to add some color. Foods that are more colorful, primarily vegetables, contain phytochemicals, a heart-healthy compound.

If your diet is mostly white -- potatoes, bread, pasta -- then you are probably lacking in beneficial vitamins. Add new vegetables and fruits to your daily intake. The change will do your body good and will decrease the boredom factor of a basic salad or meal.

Change the way you do your shopping. The biggest mistake most people make is shopping on an empty stomach. At this point, everything looks good including foods that you should be avoiding.

Instead, wait until after a meal to get your shopping done. If you are the type that eats the same frozen meal every day, it's time to make a change. Check out the aisles in the store that you might normally breeze bye. Ethnic foods can add some zip to your diet but do not have to be diet busters.

Mexican food is often regarded as a diet disaster but it does not have to be. Create homemade Mexican food with little to no cheese and boost up the amount of vegetables and spices.

Fajitas is a great dish that will satisfy your cravings without packing on the pounds. Other ethnic foods like Indian dishes contain interesting spices that will perk up your palate but not your scale.

Give yourself lots of options by stocking up your pantry and freezer. When we don't have healthy choices at home, it is much easier to simply eat out.

Frozen low-calorie meals, healthy soups, and easy-to-thaw meats are good choices. Anything that is quick to make is a good option. Because few of us plan out meals in advance, it is good to have choices at home that will not bust your diet.

Eating out has become a daily routine for most people and watching your weight is a challenge if you do so often. Pick restaurants that you know have healthy selections.

If possible share a meal with someone or plan on taking half of your portion home. Try new restaurants to vary your routine. Again, ethnic foods can add variety but you have to be smart when ordering. Be very specific with your order and always ask questions about how the food is prepared.

Variety is the spice of life and this is so true when it comes to dieting. Like a workout program, if your diet is boring and predictable you will be more likely to slack off or quit.

By adding new foods and variety to your diet, your body will not feel as deprived. Do some research on your favorite foods and you will be surprised at what you should and shouldn't be eating.

There are many Web sites available now that list the calorie and fat contents of your favorite foods. These guides make it easy to diversify your diet.

Kim Springer and her husband, Mike, are Certified Personal Trainers and owners of Springer Training. They can be reached at 233-9442 or at their Web site www.springertraining.com.


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