No More Excuses--Stick to Your Diet

No matter what your reasons for not sticking to a healthy diet, experts have a simple fix.

Obstacle: "Vegetables taste so blah when I make them myself at home."

Solution: The major mistakes people make when preparing vegetables are overcooking and underseasoning. Whether you steam, sauté, or grill, cut back a little on your usual cooking time (veggies should still have some crispness when you remove them from the heat). Then, toss them in what chefs call a finishing sauce, and season. For a quick sauce, try this vinaigrette: Whisk equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a 1?2 teaspoon each of minced garlic and mustard. Top with a sprinkle of toasted almonds or pumpkin seeds or fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, or chives.

Obstacle: "I wish I had time to cook, but takeout is the only thing that works with my insane schedule."

Solution: Pick up a healthy main course like a rotisserie chicken or grilled salmon and add quick sides like five-minute whole-wheat couscous and frozen vegetables at home. Steer clear of ready-made casseroles, pasta dishes, and mayo-based salads, which tend to pack in hidden calories. Want a lighter meal? Try a whole-grain roll and a broth-based soup from the deli counter (it's lower in sodium than canned soup because it doesn't need salt as a preservative), then toss in extra veggies or canned beans at home. On days dieters eat out, they consume 226 more calories and 10 extra grams of fat, according to a study from the University of Texas at Austin.