If you are hoping to slim down and look your best, much of it has to do with what you eat. Of course, we are all more than aware how difficult it can be to make smart choices when dining out, so where do you even begin in eating right?

The first thing that you can do is to start cooking healthy at home with these simple tips:

1. Cook vegetables quickly. Stir frying or steaming vegetables will preserve their nutrients so that you get a greater nutritional value from eating them.

2. Make a smoothie. If you want a variety of vitamins and minerals in one simple meal or snack, you can make a smoothie from a banana, frozen fruit, fat free yogurt, and protein powder. This will give you up to five servings of fruit in a single glass, and you will also have protein to get you through the day.

3. Cook with whole grains. This is an easy substitution that you can make for pasta, bread, or even rice. Use whole grain pasta, whole wheat bread, and brown rice when you are cooking as a much healthier option.

4. Limit your use of oil. Olive oil is healthy for your heart, but it is also full of calories! When you are cooking meat or vegetables, measure out how much olive oil that you use to limit your caloric intake. Another easy tip is to cook chicken in chicken broth, which is very low-calorie and flavorful.

5. Make low-fat substitutions. Whether it is low-fat dressing, low-fat milk, low-fat cheese, or low-fat ice cream, all of these low calorie choices will make a serious difference in helping you to lose weight. You would be amazed at how many calories you can add to your salad alone by using a full fat dressing!

6. Roast and poach your meat. This is much better than frying or cooking in oil because poaching and roasting are low calorie alternatives to cooking meat. These cooking methods can be used for chicken, fish, beef, and all other sources of protein.

7. Eat fruit for dessert. Even if you were to only have watermelon, it is a sweet and healthy alternative compared to ice cream as dessert. You can also try frozen yogurt, sorbet, and sherbet as a substitute for ice cream. For a truly healthy treat, go for fresh fruit with low-fat whipped topping. It is sweet, fresh, and truly delicious!

8. Make smaller portions. Of course, this is a no-brainer, but you will not be able to lose weight if you are eating too much. This is true even if the food is healthy! Monitor the portions that you are using for all food so that you can trust that your calorie count is in check, even when preparing a delicious dish.

These healthy cooking tips will make a serious difference in helping you to maintain your figure while still enjoying the foods that you love! The important thing is to be mindful about the way that you are cooking so that you can continue to enjoy food while losing weight.

Kathryn Bolling is a fitness and beauty expert with the best information available in her extensive fitness e-books at www.beauty-books.com.