Losing weight is never easy, especially when no one likes to give up great taste or feel hungry.   We’ve complied this list to help you cook lightly, enjoy foods, and lose weight at the same time and as always, to eat naturally.

1. Measure your portions:  I know it sounds simple—but really and truly, measuring out your portions (nothing larger than the palm of your hand) and using a smaller plate so it looks well filled are things you can do right away without buying any new foods. 
2.  Eat a huge veggie salad before you start dinner.  Fill your bowl with great spring lettuces, carrots, radishes, cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, and olives.  Make our very low calorie dressing.  Fills you up and satisfies you before you have anything else and helps you to eat less!
3. For a wonderful, low calorie dressing use ½ cup organic Balsamic Vinegar (like Mardona USA), 1 Tbsp oil oil, ¼ tsp sugar,  1 clove garlic, dill weed , salt & pepper.  Who needs all that fat?  Drizzle over carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, red peppers and celery for a filling and tasty snack.
4. Portion control your snacks:  We have listed a large amount of snacks that come in under 100 calorie, (1 Weight Watchers Point ®)single servings sizes.   Check them out here!
5.  Use small amounts of highly flavored ingredients — such as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, toasted sesame and hot chili oils — rather than larger amounts of mildly flavored ones. You'll add more flavor for fewer calories.
6.  Substitute mayonnaise with Reduced Calorie Vegenaise from Follow Your Heart.  (45 Calories/TBSP versus 90)
7. Top casseroles or sandwiches with shredded cheese like Applegate Farms Organic Provolone, rather than a whole piece.  Finely cut ingredients cover more surface, so you can use less of them and still get great flavor.
8. Puree silken tofu and use it as a cream substitute in soups or cream sauces.  You can also use Stonyfield Farms low fat plain yogurt as a substitute for sour cream.  (80 calories for 6 oz versus 492 calories for 8 oz!!)
9.  For another mayo substitute idea:  replace mayonnaise in tuna, egg, pasta and chicken salads with pureed, seasoned silken tofu or plain Horizon Plain low-fat yogurt. Add colorful carrots, peppers, peas,  tomatoes and olives for an appetizing low calorie lunch or dinner.
10. When baking, swap an organic applesauce like Vermont for up to 1/3 of the total butter or oil in a cookie or cake recipe (light-colored batters) or substitute the same amount of pureed prunes if you're making a chocolaty dessert. Pureed pumpkin and sweet potato are also good substitutes.  Also, DON’T OVER BAKE. Since "light" versions have less fat than the originals, you run a greater risk of drying them out if they're in the oven for too long.
11.  Use a spray oil like Mardona Spray Oil http://www.mardonausa.com/ (only 40 calories for 10 sprays) instead of chemical laden pam.
12. Use less butter and fat and add delicious tasting herbs, spices, citrus juices, garlic, and hot peppers.  Butter is 100 calories/Tbsp while herbs and spices add 0 calories
13. Sauté vegetables in Amy’s Organic Chicken or Vegetable broth instead of butter or oil and save 200 calories for each 2 Tbsp of butter or oil.
14. Cook boneless, skinless chicken in orange juice and a tablespoon of honey.  Add raisins, apples, onions for a savory sweet and sour meal. 
15.  Coat chicken and fish with a seasoned oat, cornmeal or cornflake "batter" and then bake for a crispy "oven-fried" result.
16. Rely on freshly grated orange, lemon and lime peel (zest) to add tremendous flavor to food. Be careful not to include any of the bitter-tasting white membrane called the pith.
17. Cut the fat:  rely on skinless, boneless chicken breasts.  Use ground turkey (120 calories for 4 oz)  instead of beef (216 for 4 oz)  and cut your calories almost in half!  If you must have red meat, use lean beef (5% fat).
18. DON’T deep fry.  Instead stick with baking, broiling, grilling, poaching, or steaming, which all use little, if any, added fat. Broiling and grilling are terrific for meats because the drippings are allowed to fall away from the food while cooking.
19. Use some of our delicious organic and natural salsas to cook with or add to any chicken recipe.  We especially love Ernie’s peach salsa!  Only 10 calories per Tbsp—adds lots of flavor with very low calories to chicken or fish.  Also, use as a veggie dip for a tasty and nutritious snack.
20. Put away all the leftovers before you sit down to eat (if you want more, it’s already cold!)
21. Want wine?  Buy tiny 6 oz bottles of white wine to limit over indulging.  Keeps you at 6 oz and about 120-160 calories...depending on your calorie counter
22. Eat a small piece of dark, 60% cacao chocolate, like Ghirdelli It’s only 60 calories, (1 Weight Watchers Point ®) and signals your mouth to stop eating!
23. Brush your teeth after you finish that chocolate!  Who wants to brush twice?
24. Push away from the table.  Push away from the table.  Tell yourself YOU CAN DO IT.  The most important thing about trying to lose weight is being in the weight loss mode.  Yes.  This IS true. 

You can do it.  These tips can help.