Losing weight and keeping it off is about more than making immediate sacrifices. Expert after expert has weighed in to say that it takes a full lifestyle change that you can stick with to lose weight permanently. Having said that, if you think losing weight means having a little less chocolate cake or only one bag of Cheetos after dinner, you’re going to need a drastic change to your eating plan. That means eating what you may consider being bariatric diet foods. These don’t need to be extreme, processed meals. In fact, the more natural you can get, the better. No matter what, though, you’re probably going to need to get used to what you perceive as a blander menu. However, there are some things you can do to make your sacrifice bearable.

Spices

Most spices are free of calories and can be used liberally to make dramatic changes in the flavor of your bariatric diet foods. If you think your meal is a bit too bland to stomach, the right spices can make all the difference in the world. Look around and you won’t have a hard time finding out which spices go well with which dishes. Of course, experimenting is part of the fun. Don’t feel locked into one certain spice just because some famous chef recommends it. Your goal is to lose weight, not impress a dinner party. Find ways to make your meals that will help you stick to the plan.

Incorporate Fruit

It has become a cliché, but fruit really is nature’s candy. While those striving for low carb solutions might need to limit their intake of fruit, other dieters will find several places in their meal plan for enjoying some sweet, nutritious choices. Some fruits are higher in calories than others, of course, so you’ll still need to be cautious. Your body might function better on 300 calories worth of strawberries than 300 calories worth of candy, but either choice can go to the waistline if you go over your energy needs.

Go Artificial

Some weight loss experts advise taking it easy on artificial sweeteners, and there are some studies that have linked high usage to some undesirable outcomes. Most of the hard science surrounding these claims is lacking, however. What isn’t lacking is the data on how bad processed sugar is for your body. Cut it out at any cost, and replacing it with high fructose corn syrup is not a viable choice. If you are having a hard time enjoying your bariatric diet foods, add some Equal or Splenda and see if it makes it easier.