Simple and Cheap Diets

Dieting doesn't have to be expensive and confusing. There are plenty of healthy dieting options for people who don't want to count points or eat expensive pre-packaged meals. Choosing a healthy diet is a long-term commitment, so be sure to choose a program that fits within your lifestyle. This will help improve your odds of long-term success.

MyPyramid

The MyPyramid Plan was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2005 in an effort to make its Dietary Guidelines for Americans publication much easier to follow. MyPyramid is a simple, free, online dieting tool that provides you with a customized diet plan based on your height, weight, age, gender and physical activity level. It shows you the types of foods you should focus on as well as how many calories to consume each day. The primary food groups include vegetables, whole grains, fruits, low-fat dairy and meat/beans.

Mayo Clinic Diet

The Mayo Clinic Diet is an inexpensive dieting plan that is based on proven nutritional and weight loss research conducted by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. It is available in book form for about $25, based on 2011 pricing. The general idea behind the Mayo Clinic Diet is sticking to the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid. These guidelines allow you to eat an unlimited amount of fruits and vegetables each day, four to eight servings of carbohydrates, three to seven proteins, three to five fats and up to 75 calories from sweets.

DASH Diet

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, plan was originally designed to help people lower their blood pressure, but it has also been shown to help people lose weight. According to DASH Diet, many people lose between 10 and 35 lbs. within a few months of starting the program. The DASH diet focuses on nutritionally dense foods rich in fiber and low in salt and sugar. The USDA and American Heart Association endorse this diet plan. The full diet plan can be purchased in book form for under $20.

SlimKids Diet

The SlimKids Diet plan was created in 1995 by Laura Kraemer, RN, CPN, in an effort to help slow down the growing rate of childhood obesity. For about $20, the SlimKids program can help teach kids how to eat healthier by eating foods that are low in calories, yet still make them feel full. This is a four-meal-a-day program that averages about 1,800 calories. A sample dinner may include 3 oz. of lean roast beef with a half-cup of mushrooms, a small salad, 1 cup of broccoli and 1 cup of skim milk.