Eat Right: Make Smarter Choices about Healthy Eating

By Jennifer R. Scott, About.com Guide to Weight Loss

Eating right is the first step toward long-term successful weight loss. From understanding basic nutrition principles and counting calories, to making healthful restaurant choices, the basics are covered here.

1. Counting Calories
2. Smart Snacking
3. Smart Choices: Grocery Shopping
4. Smart Choices: Ethnic Dining

5. Smart Choices: Fast Food
6. Healthier Cooking
7. Nutrition Basics
8. Better Breakfasts

Counting Calories

Calorie-counting is the "math" behind long-term, successful weight loss. By understanding your body's caloric needs and how to track calories in the food you consume, you truly can learn how to eat almost anything you want and still lose weight.

• What is a Calorie?
• Why Calories Count
• How Calories Affect Weight Loss
• Calculate Your Caloric Needs

• Count Calories in Five Easy Steps
• Smart Swaps that Save Calories
• Cut 1,000+ Calories in Days!

Smart Snacking

Incorporating healthy snacks into your day can help curb your appetite and keep your metabolism going strong. Here's how to make the best choices.

• 25-100 Calorie Snacks
• 100 Calorie or Less Snacks
• 150 Calorie or Less Snacks

• 200 Calorie or Less Snacks
• Healthy Snacking on the Go
• Guide to Smart Snacking

Smart Choices: Grocery Shopping

Learn how to read food labels, decode label claims, and make the best choices for healthy foods at the grocery store.

• Basic Healthy Grocery List
• Plan for Grocery Shopping
• Get Smart at the Supermarket

• Best Choices at the Meat Counter
• Best Choices from the Ice Cream Aisle
• Compare Labels and Make Smart Switches

Smart Choices: Ethnic Dining

Learn how to make better choices at your favorite ethnic eateries with Quick Guides that list the best and worst dishes from a variety of cuisines.

• Japanese Restaurants Quick Guide
• Mexican Restaurants Quick Guide
• Greek Restaurants Quick Guide
• Chinese Restaurants Quick Guide

• Indian Restaurants Quick Guide
• Italian Restaurants Quick Guide
• Thai Restaurants Quick Guide
• Vietnamese Restaurants Quick Guide

Smart Choices: Fast Food

Learn how to make better choices at fast food and food court eateries.

• 35 Smart Fast Food Choices
• More Fast Food Choices
• Fast Food Quick Guide: Arby's
• Fast Food Quick Guide: Panda Express

• Fast Food Quick Guide: Quizno's
• Fast Food Quick Guide: Shakes
• Fast Food Quick Guide: Sonic
• Smart Swaps for Eating Out

Healthier Cooking

With a few simple changes you can cut the fat and calories in many of your favorite meals and desserts.

• Healthier Baking Substitutions
• Ways to Cook for Weight Loss
• Add Flavor without Fat

• Avoid Too Many Added Calories
• Healthy Grilling
• Make Weeknight Meals a Snap

Nutrition Basics

Learn some of the basic principles of good nutrition.

• Understand the New Food Pyramid
• Understand Food Labels
• Understanding Grains

• Understanding Carbohydrates
• Facts About Fat
• Identify and Understand Healthy Fats

Better Breakfasts

It's the most important meal of the day, so put breakfast on the top of your to-do list starting tomorrow morning.

• Breakfast and Weight Loss
• Breakfasts Under 300 Calories
• 300 Calorie or Less Breakfasts

• Breakfasts Under 400 Calories
• Breakfasts Under 500 Calories
• Guide to Calorie-Smart Breakfasts