foods

A sudden overwhelming desire for chocolate or a bag of chips — cravings can pop up out of nowhere and be detrimental to weight loss. However, there are both physiological and psychological reasons behind them. The good news is there are plenty of ways to manage cravings. Keep on track and reach...

Proteins are the big guns necessary for the structure, function and regulation of all cells, tissues and organs in the body. The macronutrient is composed of 20 amino acids or building blocks. The body can make some amino acids itself, but there are nine essential ones you must obtain from food...

About half of bloating and gas woes are caused by swallowed air — the other half is due to what you’ve had to eat or drink. When the gastrointestinal tract can’t move food through efficiently, or is unable to digest a particular nutrient, gas builds up in the lower intestine, causing bloating...

If you want to lose weight, gain weight or even just maintain weight, you probably know calories in versus calories out is the key to success. However, the total amount of calories you burn comes less from exercise and more from your metabolism — the process of converting calories into energy —...

Good nutrition sounds simple enough: Eat mostly foods that come from the ground, fill your plate with colorful fruits and vegetables and splurge only on occasion. But realistically, you probably find yourself confused when trying to decipher an ingredient list, label or packaging at the grocery...

The saying “eat everything in moderation” is among the most common diet advice, however, it’s not as straightforward as it may seem. “To me, moderation means that no foods are off limits,” says Mia Syn, RD. All foods can fit in a healthy diet, but that doesn’t mean they all fit all the time. Syn...

You’ve likely noticed the scent of fresh-baked pizza or a warm cinnamon bun is intoxicating on your way into a food court, but after you’ve eaten a well-balanced lunch, it’s significantly less appealing. That’s because your sense of smell is strongest when you’re hungriest. And it’s not the only...

It may seem like a Catch 22: The more you want to lose weight, the harder you try, then the more pressure you put on yourself only to feel discouraged and not see results and then potentially give up. What isn’t normal about that? However, when you’re trying to create better eating habits to...

It may seem like a Catch 22: The more you want to lose weight, the harder you try, then the more pressure you put on yourself only to feel discouraged and not see results and then potentially give up. What isn’t normal about that? However, when you’re trying to create better eating habits to...

Ice cream is a popular dessert logged by MyFitnessPal users — and for good reason. It’s hard to imagine summers or special occasions without a scoop of your favorite hard-packed flavor or a soft-serve cone. Still, you’d be hard pressed to find an ice cream shop, social or truck where you don’t...

Many people begin their fat-loss journey by cutting calories. This is a tried-and-true fat-loss tactic research shows is more effective than relying on exercise alone. However, many people cut calories so dramatically they feel hungry all the time. Not only is this unpleasant, but it won’t...

If you refuse to try quinoa, recoil at the texture of tomatoes — or, gasp, avocados — and insist that certain foods never touch on the plate, you might be a picky eater — and you are not alone. Up to 56% of the population could be labeled picky eaters, a term used to describe those who eat from...

Fiber deservedly gets a lot of attention from nutritionists — “it’s important for everything from regulating digestion to controlling blood sugar and reducing cholesterol levels,” says Claire Virga, RD. “It also feeds the healthy bacteria in our guts, promoting a healthy microbiome.” Moreover...

Sugar is often maligned for a host of chronic health problems, most notably heart disease. Not only can consuming too much stand in the way of your goal to lose weight, but it can also crowd out good-for-you, nutrient-rich foods from your diet. Despite the warnings, many people still overdo it...

Going to bed hungry can often result in poor sleep and an overwhelming urge to raid the fridge at midnight. Sometimes we do this by mistake, and other times it’s because of meaningless rules like “no eating after x o’clock” set forth by diet culture. First and foremost, I’m here to tell you that...

If you’re trying to lose weight and eat healthier, chances are you’re well aware of the benefits of logging your food. While setting calorie goals and balancing macronutrients are largely tried-and-true tools, one metric is a bit more controversial. Enter net carbs, aka “impact carbs” or...

If you want to lose weight or gain muscle, it often feels like there’s no room for error, especially when it comes to your diet. However, according to nutrition experts, a streak of eating “perfectly” could actually backfire. “Trying to be perfect with your diet will set you up for disaster...

Self-control can sometimes feel like it’s all or nothing, especially when you’re trying to stick with a strict eating plan to lose weight. The moment you veer off course with one indulgence, it’s easy to feel like you’ve failed, which makes it that much easier to throw in the towel. But, in...

Oftentimes when you set out to lose weight, it involves deeming some foods ‘good’ and others ‘bad’ and restricting those in the latter category. This often backfires, however, because when you deprive yourself of the things you love (and eliminate entire food groups) it usually leads to a...

Healthy weight loss starts with eating well. But if you’re struggling with body image or desperate to get over a weight-loss plateau, it can be easy to veer into not-so-healthy territory with eating habits. The signs you’ve got an unhealthy relationship with food aren’t always easy to spot, says...