Most diets help people to lose weight as long as they follow the program. But no one likes feeling deprived, so few people stay on a diet forever. The pounds creep back on as soon as they resume their former ways of eating. The best way to slim down permanently is by adopting healthier eating habits. Weight loss consultants recommend the following tips to help you lose fat and keep it off.

Fill up with fiber. According to research, people whose diets are high in fiber are less likely to be overweight. Fibrous foods take longer to chew and digest and can keep you feeling full for longer. The fiber itself passes through the body undigested. The best source is raw vegetables and fruits eaten complete with the skin. Natural fiber is also found in wholegrain pastas, cereals and breads.

Switch from cereal to eggs. The most popular breakfast foods are all high in carbohydrates. They typically cause a rapid drop in blood sugar around mid-morning which leads to fatigue and food cravings. A breakfast based around eggs is much healthier. Two eggs contain about 170 calories and are high in protein and nutrients. If you're short on time, cook scrambled eggs in the microwave.

Don't purchase battered or breaded foods. Products such as fish sticks or chicken nuggets are often served as the protein element of a meal. In fact, they are high in unhealthy fats and simple carbohydrates. A 100 gram chicken burger contains less protein than an equal weight of skinless chicken breast and more than twice the calories. You can roast the breast for your sandwich in the same time it takes to cook the frozen burger.

Choose healthier snacks. Fried corn and potato chips are often a dieter's downfall. The combination of starch, oil and salt is designed to be addictive. People rarely limit themselves to the recommended portion size. Cravings for crunchy, salty snacks can be satisfied by eating roasted, salted nuts which are a source of protein and fiber. Or try baked wholegrain crackers which have half the calories of chips.

Eat the whole fruit. Few people realise that a glass of unsweetened fruit juice tends to have more calories than a similarly sized glass of sugary cola. Both contain ten teaspoons of sugar. Get the benefits of fiber along with your vitamins and reduce your daily calories by substituting whole fruit for juice.

Don't let the low fat label fool you. Processed diet foods with less fat than the natural versions rarely help people to lose weight. In order to replace the lost flavor, manufacturers add extra chemicals, sugar and starch. Unless you immediately burn them off, your body stores these sugars and starches as fat. They also raise your blood sugar, meaning your hunger is only satisfied temporarily.

Weight loss consultants agree that of you want to stay slim for life, you need to change your eating habits. Cut out processed food products and eat more natural foods. Cook nutritious meals from fresh produce. Simply making healthier choices could cut your intake by about 200 calories a day.