BEWARE OF BREADED FOODS

Avoid breaded foods. Chicken and fish are healthy staples in your diet when properly prepared. However, coat them with flour and bread crumbs and fry them in oil and you have a fattening feast in an instant. Fried chicken or fried fish sandwiches are higher in fat and calories - and that's before they're drenched in mayonnaise or tartar sauce. Instead go for grilled, broiled, steamed or baked.

ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH FIBER?

Eat high-fiber cereals. The benefits of fiber are far reaching. From digestion to diabetes to cancer, fiber is responsible for improving these conditions. A person should consume 25 to 35 grams of fiber a day. While many people get their daily intake of fiber from fruits and vegetables, high-fiber cereals such as All Bran (1/3 cup = 8.5 grams), Fiber One (1/2 cup = 14 grams) and 100% Bran (1/2 cup = 8.4 grams) are all optimum sources for fiber.