“It doesn’t have to be a whole head of broccoli or a bowl of raw kale (eww).”

While diets and trends come and go, one thing that every registered dietitian, doctor, health coach, etc. can agree on is that fruits and vegetables are good for you. Although fruit has recently gotten a lot of bad press for its sugar content, truth is that’s a load of bologna. Pretty much the only people who need to consider the sugar in fruit are diabetics. For the rest of the population: keep trying to eat as many fruits and veggies as you can.

Why are they indisputably so good for us? Fruits and veggies are crammed full of vitamins and minerals that aid in the functions of the body. They contain water to keep you hydrated and fiber to keep you “going”. Classified as carbohydrates, they give you energy as well. While most are low-calorie, they are also quite filling. If you’re getting your 4-5 servings of fruits and veggies a day, you’re filling yourself with nutritious options rather than fatty, sugary, unhealthy foods.

Unfortunately, not everyone likes fruits and vegetables. I’ll admit, not every produce item gets me racing to the kitchen for dinner. But there are ways to sneak in your daily dose without too much effort or too much grimaced chewing. Because food is supposed to be enjoyable.

“But SURPRISE! It also has tons of saucy calories and is probably doing more harm than good.”

Are you doing everything right? Have you made tons of lifestyle changes and you still aren’t losing weight??  It’s one of the most frustrating feelings; especially if you feel you’re doing all you can to lose weight. (Note: if you haven’t mastered the basics yet, take a look at my post on How to Lose Weight.) The truth is there are lots of reasons why you may not be losing weight. Society has become a proficient calorie-sneaking machine, so you may not even be aware of the reasons behind your weight gain/maintenance.

Having counseled people on weight loss and seen first-hand their barriers, I’m here to help you identify and decrease the effect of these calorie culprits. I’ve made a list of likely obstacles that have hindered you and included ways to hurdle them in the future. Let’s get started!