If you're looking into weight-loss programs, the best one is both the easiest and the hardest: Change your lifestyle.

"People should not go on a weight-loss program," says Keri M. Gans, RD, CDN, a nutrition consultant in New York City and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "They should develop healthy eating habits. The problem with a program is people feel they can go off at any time. If you instead change your lifestyle and how you approach food, then you're looking at a long-term plan for health."

Grilled Greek Chicken Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Rest Time: 4 h
Total Time: 42 mins

It's probably no surprise that greasy cheeseburgers, French fries, and pizza are loaded with fat. But did you know that even certain vegetables and healthy fish can have a high fat content? Keep in mind that fat is an important part of a healthy diet and while not all fat is bad, the fat content of a given meal should be evaluated just as closely as its calories.

Fat Content in Your Diet: How Much Fat Is Okay?

Today I have a little rant on energy drinks...

I receive a ton of questions about all of these new "energy" drinks that have hit the market over the last few years. They seem to be all the rage, especially with the youth, and they promise you the world with outrageous claims of all of the super energy that you are going to have, and how you'll become the best athlete in the world, start lifting cars over your head, and get a perfect body.

So a couple questions arise:

Macaroni salad is the perfect addition to any summer soiree, but many recipes call for heavy mayonnaise and lack vegetable variety. This low-fat, colorful version features healthy whole-wheat pasta and fiber-rich beans; both contain saponins, phytochemicals shown to slow cancer cell growth in the lab. You can add the veggies featured here or visit your local farmer’s market and pick up additional seasonal items to experiment with.

Eating plenty of vegetables is one of the key recommendations of the Healthy Living With Ellie program — they're loaded with nutrients and though they have few calories, they're highly satisfying. But wait — you say you simply hate vegetables? Here are a few ideas to help you get a few more into your diet:
Be sneaky. Sneaking vegetables into foods you already like is a good option. Stir some canned pumpkin into your oatmeal, add finely grated carrot to your pasta sauce, sneak peas into the macaroni and cheese, or add extra vegetables to your chicken noodle soup.

Before you feast on chicken and boycott carbs, take a closer look at the U.S. Food Pyramid. Carbohydrates are highlighted as an important part of a healthy diet, and not banned by any means. Your body needs a wide variety of foods to function and stay healthy.

Not everybody has a taste for water, but we all need it to ensure that our bodies continue functioning properly. If you want to drink more water, but aren't crazy about the taste (or lack thereof), here are some tips that can make it more enjoyable:

Cool Down with a Fruit Freeze

Research has shown that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables can reduce your cancer risk. Contribute to your daily fruit servings and quench your thirst with this fun drink that’s sure to please. Inspired by Italian ice, this concoction is a slushy combination of lycopene-rich watermelon and antioxidant-abundant blueberries that can be enjoyed with a spoon or through a straw as it melts.

Blueberry Watermelon Freeze

Q: How can I bust through a weight-loss plateau? I've been working really hard and have been having success; however, the scale hasn't budged for the past two and a half weeks.