“And 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?

“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 think 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!

“From Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods to Walmart, these foods remain affordable.”

Eating healthy is sooo expensive!!

Or is it?

As a semi-recent college graduate trying to survive on my own in the world, I’m always looking for more ways to save money. Now I know how expensive bills can be, I don’t expect this frugal mindset to change any time soon.

One of the most costly expenses we adults face is food. I learned quickly that eating at home is the way to go – although I gratefully succumb to the convenience of takeout on occasion. While the specific region in which you live and thus available grocery stores will impact your costs, I’ve identified some cheap – yet healthy – food trends across most retailers. From Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods to Walmart, these foods remain affordable! Not only that, they are also nutrient-dense and have numerous benefits. These nine foods also cover all of the food groups! So if you’re eating healthy on a budget, these are the staples to stock up on.