“Eat, Drink and Still Shrink” (Women’s Health Food Blog Post)

When you’re trying to maintain a healthy diet, a lot of people try counting calories, avoiding alcohol, and passing up all junk food. It seems simple to lose weight, if you can stick to a super strict diet, right?

That used to be me, until I started working in the food industry. As a food blogger and a marketing manager for a fabulous catering company in New York City, I could argue that it has become my job to EAT. And trust me, it is impossible to count calories when someone is asking you to try a bite of truffled lobster macaroni and cheese (or parmesan pudding, see above) before 10 am. But it is not impossible to maintain a healthy weight and waistline while at the same time enjoying your food. It doesn’t all have to be grilled fish and undressed greens—you can be a foodie without being a fatty, just don’t overdo it.

I taste rich, delicious food all day long and instead of driving myself crazy focusing on what I can’t or shouldn’t eat, I focus on what I can. When I am in control of my meals, I make healthy choices and use portion control—that way when a small handful of maple bacon popcorn (I’m not kidding! It’s awesome!) comes near my mouth there’s no need to panic—and very little chance it will have a negative effect. I find that the same concept works well for dieting and eating healthy in general.

Don’t deprive yourself—reward yourself by eating foods that keep you healthy, full and energized. To learn about 5 easy ways to stay on track, head on over to the Women’s Health Magazine Food Blog: http://blog.womenshealthmag.com/food/you-can-still-be-a-foodie-and-lose-weight/