Forget the diet. Just take some these common sense steps into mind and you will begin to live a healthier lifestyle without the pain, suffering, craving and starvation of a typical diet.

Double the Veggies

No matter where you at dining or what you are ordering, take every chance to get an extra helping of vegetables. Even if you are not a 'veggie' fan, you can do this in the same theme as this articles series: painless or practically pain-free. Ask for extra tomatoes, sliced peppers, mushrooms or whatever on your sandwich or slice of pizza. You will hardly taste the additional helping of vegetables but your body will notice. Ask for extra onions on everything. Onions are so healthy that you should make it a habit to generously pack them on any time you can: hot dogs, sandwiches, pizza, burgers...whatever.

Speaking of Health Food - Pizza?

If you order your next pizza pie or slice with double tomato sauce with light cheese (or ask them to 'go light' on the amount of cheese), you have a delicious and heart healthy meal. If there is an option for a thin crust alternative, take that option as well to cut down on the amount of refined carbohydrates. Even better, a lot of pizza 'huts' are beginning to offer multigrain or whole wheat crust options - choose this if you can.

Light Peanut Butter?

The next time you are purchasing peanut butter, go for the natural peanut butter. This peanut butter should only have two ingredients on the package: roasted peanuts and salt. When you get the peanut butter home, open the jar. You will notice that the oil has risen to the top of the jar. Now the instructions on the jar will tell you that you should stir the peanut butter to reincorporate the oil into the peanut butter and will also note that to keep this natural separation from happening again, stir and refrigerate promptly. I have a better idea. Just pour the oil in the trash can! Pour out the oil and you are pouring away most of the fat. You now have a lower fat, deliciously nutritious, natural peanut butter.

Carnivores Choose Wisely

When it is time for a delicious serving of red meat, always try to opt for the leanest portion available. These cuts will be from, or have the name of 'loin' or 'round'. Sirloin, tenderloin, top and bottom round are all good choices. And watch your portion size. Don't just scarf it down because the house serving size is 12 ounces. 4-6 ounces is a healthy serving size. For reference, look at your hand. The size of your hand's palm area is right around the equivalent size of a 4-5 oz serving of meat. Or think about the size of a standard deck of cards...whatever works for you.