What to EAT! What is my Grocery List for Eating?

what I do is follow the food pyramid or healthy plate. Whole grains, protein,dairy, vegetables and fruit and healthy fats

What did you eat previously? Those who are most successful long term eat the same foods they have always eaten but in smaller portions.

Aim to meet your MFP protein, fat, carb and fibre goals eating whatever foods you enjoy.

What did you eat previously? Those who are most successful long term eat the same foods they have always eaten but in smaller portions.

Aim to meet your MFP protein, fat, carb and fibre goals eating whatever foods you enjoy.

This. There is no need for a specific plan. Just eat less of what you normally eat to start with.

Build your menus around foods you ENJOY
Life is too short to eat crappy food!
Yesterday, I had roasted duck w/duck giblet couscous... I LOVE food and will buy groceries around what I want or crave that week. For instance, last week I was wanting avocados and black olives.
You could also look at folks' diaries for ideas.

Find your weak areas. For me, that is fruits & veggies. So I make sure to have some every day. And then I know protein is important, so I make sure to get enough. Other than that, its filler. I don't try to get in carbs, fat - they just seem to happen naturally.

Shop for foods you enjoy. Look to prepare them in ways that don't add grease or such. So more baking than frying, for example.

What did you eat previously? Those who are most successful long term eat the same foods they have always eaten but in smaller portions.

Aim to meet your MFP protein, fat, carb and fibre goals eating whatever foods you enjoy.

^ this, I lost 24 pounds in three months and weeks, and I had been maintaining for 2 months by eating what I ate before but in smaller portions

Check out carb-cycling.

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally, if I had to actively think about and plan how many grams of protein or carbs I ate in a day, or what percentage of my food intake those would be, or in what order I ate them...... I'd never actually do it. That's why no other "diet" worked for me. And it is the beauty of the basic MFP calorie counting and logging.

Here's the thing. I'm always experimenting with food to see what I can eat that will keep me happy and full, give me energy and keep me under my calorie goal. The eye opening thing about MFP for me was that at the end of the day I could see how the food I ate balanced out and then adjust accordingly. I could see what were calorie bombs and decide if I wanted to include those things going forward. I could see what I ate that may not have been all that filling and caused me to eat more snacks or over eat later in the day. I could see overall nutritional value of food intake - sometimes it was very surprising, sometimes it just confirmed what I probably already new. In the process I've found a lot of food that I really, really like and that helps me stay on track.

And.... I could eat pizza if I really wanted to. Or whatever. As long as I logged it accurately I could/can see how it affects me that day and over time. Eventually I found myself learning more about food than I ever imagined rather than having someone tell me what to eat, but offering no explanation as to why to eat it.

Keep experimenting and finding things you like that fit your new lifestyle. The MFP tool will help you with that. It's a data center that you'd have to pay thousands of dollars for somewhere else. And you will make mistakes, but that is OK. It's part of the process. Make it easy on yourself so that you can maximize your ability to stick with it. Get some momentum.

Find your weak areas. For me, that is fruits & veggies. So I make sure to have some every day. And then I know protein is important, so I make sure to get enough. Other than that, its filler. I don't try to get in carbs, fat - they just seem to happen naturally.

Shop for foods you enjoy. Look to prepare them in ways that don't add grease or such. So more baking than frying, for example.

(Thank you StaciMarie197!)

I love what was said here. I start with the things that are beneficial and fill up on that first, produce and protein.

Also if you are a guacamole nut (like me) ... Wholly Guacamole has put out single serving cups that are 100 calories. They have plain or spicy ---- I find it at Target. I love having these cups because the "fat" in avacados is good for you - it's also portion control and the rest doesn't go bad.

Watch the carbs. It turns to sugar in your body - so going "low fat" is not always the best. No white bread, white rice or anything white... always whole grains and breads with "sprouted grains". If you are into jelly and sauces (i.e., chocolate, caramel, etc), Smuckers makes a whole line of sugar free that are delicious - at your local store. Cut out juices and soda... protein is a key. Unfortunately I've had to start measuring and using a scale because I was definitely in need of portion control. You can eat the "nutrisystem" way without spending the money. I now steam my veggies in a steamer in the microwave - no butter or oil. Use "Lemon Pepper" spice on my veggies - makes them taste deliciou!

You don't have to cut out white bread, white rice or anything else. You also don't need to go sugar free. Carbs and Sugar are not the devil and can be a part of a well balanced day.

I've lost a little weight and I eat all the same things I always did I just don't eat as much of them.

focus on when you eat as much as what you're eating. You should be eating once every three hours to keep your metabolism going - three meals, three snacks a day. Protein is key, so be sure to include at least a little protein every time you eat. For snacks, I suggest things like Greek yogurt with a little granola and nuts, string cheese with some fruit and a few crackers, etc. Meals can be as simple as a Pb sandwich with a side of cottage cheese. Think about what you like and could eat daily, and try to keep it simple and manageable. Hope this helps

When you eat is personal preference you do not have to eat every three hours. If your metabolism stops you're dead. You can eat once per day, or multiple times that is all on what works for you.