Low-Calorie Diet

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What is the low-calorie diet?

The low-calorie diet is an eating plan used to help people lose weight. It involves limiting the overall number of calories you eat or drink in a day. A dietitian can work with you on figuring out the right number of calories for you per day, structuring your meals, and finding the right portions for your food choices.

Are there other names for this diet?

How does this diet help people who are undergoing cancer treatment?

Some cancer treatments can cause people to gain weight over time. In particular, corticosteroid and hormone therapies can cause weight gain. The low-calorie diet helps people prevent weight gain during treatment or lose weight after treatment.

If you were overweight at the time of your cancer diagnosis, you may want to talk to your doctor about going on a low-calorie diet. You might also consider a weight-loss plan that includes diet and exercise. Obesity has been linked to a poorer prognosis for several cancers, including breast cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, and tongue cancer. It can also contribute to a higher risk of prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. Learn more about the link between obesity and cancer risk.

What are the basic guidelines of the low-calorie diet?

The three basic principles of the low-calorie diet are:

Avoid high-calorie foods.

Monitor portion sizes to prevent overeating.

Avoid sugary drinks.

You can eat any food you want as long as you do so in moderation. One thing to keep an eye on is energy-dense foods. These foods provide more calories per bite. Not all energy-dense foods are bad for you. Two examples of good energy-dense foods are nuts and avocados. However, you should eat less of these foods to minimize the overall number of calories you take in.

Are there medications to avoid while on this diet?

What are some of the common complaints from people on the low-calorie diet, and how do you solve them?

COMPLAINT

SOLUTION

It’s too much work.

Set aside time to plan and prepare your meals and snacks.

I’m hungry all the time.

Drink water or other calorie-free beverages before you reach for food. Oftentimes we think we are hungry when we are actually thirsty.
Include a protein-rich food in all your meals.
Fill up on foods with a high fiber and water content.
Include small snacks between your meals.
Go for a walk. Many times we reach for food because of boredom rather than true hunger.

I don’t like whole grains.

Use just half of the whole grains in recipes, like brown rice mixed with white rice, to help improve the taste.

I don’t like vegetables.

Sneak vegetables into omelets, pasta sauces, or casseroles.
Include legumes, whole grains, and fruits to help get more vitamins and minerals.