…Cooking light with virtually zero-calorie spices like ginger and parsley adds flavor without the fat and calories, as does the use of healthier fats like olive oil and butter blends. A recent British study showed that red chili peppers and other "hot" spices can actually boost your metabolism and keep you fuller longer. Reduce your overall fat intake even more by replacing doughnuts, cookies and other high-fat snack items with low fat diet foods. A quick internet search brings hundreds of low fat recipes awaiting your discovery in searchable databases for healthy foods!

Low-fiber and simple carbs-- those found in white rice and soft drinks--dominate the typical American diet. The human body digests simple carbs quickly and turns them into sugar, or glucose, almost immediately and with little nutritional return. A high glucose level from rapid digestion gives you energy initially, but the fast processing means the glucose level will drop quickly, producing feelings of fatigue and irritability when you "crash." High-fiber complex carbs are better for the body, which digests these carbs more slowly and with higher nutritional gains. If you're aiming for a low carb lifestyle, change not only fats and oils, but also what you're actually cooking. Create your own low carb recipes by using whole grain pasta, brown rice, and other complex carbs in place of simple ones. Making high-protein meats like turkey and chicken the bulk of your meal. Cooking light gives your body what it needs in terms of nutrition as well as taste, and you'll be rewarded with more energy and a trimmer figure as well as a happier, more stable everyday mood!