Skip to main content

How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight

Written by Dr. Lee Mancini on Tuesday, 22 January 2013. Posted in Kids' Nutrition, Healthy Nutrition

How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight
Fruits and vegetables are part of a well-balanced and healthy eating plan. There are many different ways to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Using more fruits and vegetables along with whole grains and lean meats, nuts, and beans is a safe and healthy one. Helping control your weight is not the only benefit of eating more fruits and vegetables. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are important for good health.
 
To lose weight, you must eat fewer calories than your body uses.
 
This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to eat less food. You can create lower-calorie versions of some of your favorite dishes by substituting low-calorie fruits and vegetables in place of higher-calorie ingredients. The water and fiber in fruits and vegetables will add volume to your dishes, so you can eat the same amount of food with fewer calories. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and are filling.
 
Next week, we’ll have tips on how to creatively use fruits and veggies to help you manage your weight, WITHOUT GOING HUNGRY!

About the Author

Dr. Lee Mancini

Lee A. Mancini graduated from Harvard as a two-sport athlete with honors in biology. Board certified in sports medicine and family practice, he works at the Family Health Center and UMass Sports Medicine Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. He trains select clients as a certified strength and conditioning specialist and sports nutritionist.