Healthy eating is an absolute requirement in any proper diet plan. When you're trying to lose weight, reducing calorie intake is inevitable, but simply cut it without well designed meal plan is suicide; doing this will resulted in many side effects like hunger and lack of proper nutrients intake, also there is high possibility that you'll gain the weight back immediately when you start eating normally.

Here are a few facts about a healthy diet plan:

1. Eat sufficient calories

If you suddenly cut a lot of your calorie intake, you'll having problem in your ability to completing your daily activities . During a diet, you will very likely to have less than recommended 2,000 calories but DO NOT takes less than 1,200 calories.

Meal plan that give you 1200-1600 calories per day is still enough to support your body through a day routines. It is definitely not recommended to cut less than that except if you are under doctor supervision.

2. Eat balanced diet

Despite the fact that you are on a diet, ban one or more food groups from your meal plans are not recommended. It is highly recommended that your diet allows various foods from different food groups to be served in proper portion.

3. Retain adequate meal portions throughout the day

Some diet force the dieter to cut their meal portion drastically, but lack of food will results in hunger and various side effect like hard to concentrate, anxiety, headache, etc. If the portion is small, arrange four or five meals with short interval, thus you can stay away from hunger.

If you are somehow forced to eat out and can’t stick to the eating plan, just have the regular portion regardless of how much the discount for the super size packet.

4. Control your milk and dairy foods intake

Milk and dairy foods have high saturated fat content, so it is not advisable to consume them in large quantities. However, they are good calcium source which is important for bone and teeth. Consume them in moderate quantities and choose the low fat version.

5. Make sure to includes meat, fish, eggs, and beans in your diet plans

This food group is major protein source, which is needed for growth and repairs. Check the meal plan example above and you'll find that it includes them all. Be very careful for red meat since it contains high level of saturated fats.

6. Restrict saturated fat, trans fat, and sugar

A healthy diet plan must still includes fat in it meal plans, but avoid saturated and trans fat as much as possible as these two type of fats are associated with numerous chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. It must also avoid excessive sugary foods since it will cause tougher weight management .

7. Including exercise session

Exercise is a must in a healthy diet plan. You don’t need hours of cardio or weight training although those sure can help; instead, mild exercise such as yoga or light jog will do. Just do it consistently; there is no use in doing 2 hours weight training today if you’re end up quitting next week.

Please remember that you don't need to completely ban all your favorite foods (especially junk foods) just because you're on a diet; this is also applied to other unhealthy snacks that contain high amount of sugar, salt, or saturated fat. Following your diet too strictly (especially if it ban all your favorite foods) will only result in depression and there is high possibility that you'll quit before seeing any result at all. Occasionally, it is okay to have them as long as you keep it at low portion; it is better yet if your diet include this (also known as ‘cheat day’) in its program.

If you are going for a diet, make sure you select the right diet plan that not only will make you lose weight, but also keep you healthy in the process. Meal plans that fulfill those seven criteria and good exercise menu are the key.