Here's some tips on keeping that diet going, from the EatingWell web site.


6 Cooking Habits That Are Wrecking Your Diet

Cooking at home is a great way to eat healthy and cut calories, but sometimes your meal isn't as low-cal as you think. The culprit? Six common cooking habits that unintentionally add extra calories. See if you're making one of these mistakes.



Paying closer attention to your cooking habits can help you eat healthier.
Swimsuit season is right around the corner and one sure way to keep your weight in check is to ditch the takeout menu and cook at home instead. Great idea, since you control the menu and hence the calories. But it’s not a flawless plan. When you cook at home—and especially if you’re comfortable doing so—you might tend to relax "the rules" a little. Maybe you add "a few pinches" of salt or "just a dash" of oil instead of measuring it out, or you enjoy munching on your ingredients as you’re prepping. Those little things can really add up. Here are a few cooking habits that may secretly be sabotaging your diet.





1. Using Too Much Oil
It’s no secret that oil packs a lot of calories—an average of about 120 calories per tablespoon. Some recipes call for an exact amount, but many call for a "thin coating" of oil in the pan. But what exactly is a thin coating? Enough oil to just glaze the pan or half an inch? It’s always a good idea to measure oil, even if a recipe suggests you just estimate how much you need. No measurement in your recipe? Start with a tablespoon and swirl it around. If it coats your pan, then it’s probably enough. Also note that if you’re using a nonstick pan, you can use less oil than if you were using a regular stainless-steel skillet....




2. Eyeballing Ingredients
Sure, you might think you have a good idea of what a teaspoon of salt looks like or what a cup of pasta might be or a pound of meat might look like. But it’s always a good idea to measure—even if you’ve made the recipe before. Overestimating calorie-rich ingredients like pasta, oil and meat can really increase the calorie count of your meal. Keep those measuring spoons and cups handy, and invest in a good kitchen scale to ensure accurate calorie counts....



* Click the link below to see all the  Habits That Are Wrecking Your Diet.


http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101_basics_and_techniques/cooking_habits_that_are_sabotaging_your_diet?sssdmh=dm17.738434&utm_source=EWDNL&esrc=nwewd051914t