What are meal-based diets? To a certain extent, meal based diets are self-explanatory. Inherent in a meal-based diet is some kind of regular meal plan – whether it involves calorie counting, weighing your food, following certain criteria for each meal (one protein, one fat, one vegetable), or ordering pre-packaged foods to meet a specific caloric requirement. The idea behind meal-based diets is that when you are able to gain control of your eating habits, your body b urns existing fat stores rather than continuing to pack on pounds for a rainy day.

Who are meal-based diets best used by? Meal-based diets are especially helpful for someone who regularly overeats or who struggles with maintaining a healthy diet in general. Keep in mind, though, that unless you choose a program where meals are delivered to your door, counting calories or preparing your own healthy meals can take a great deal of effort in order to stick to your program. Also, any meal-based plan is most effective when combined with regular exercise.