To eat, or not to eat? That is the dieting question.

Dieting is about moderation.There is never any need to cut out everything you like. Just make sure you are getting what you need and not that much more.

Eat:

• Slowly - Enjoy your food. If you eat too fast, you'll miss realizing the actual point of fullness. It takes 20 minutes to really feel the food you eat in your stomach.
• Without stress - Being stressed out can lead to heartburn and other digestive problems. Avoid eating while doing other activities so your body can focus on the act alone.
• According to needs - Pay attention to what your body asks you for. Feel like you need more fruits? Pick up an apple. Also, don't starve yourself if you're exercising regularly because you need nutrients and more to nourish yourself int he process.
• Early and often - They key is boosting your metabolism, which helps digest your food. If you eat early in the morning, that can keep it going for longer during the day. Also, eating smaller meals more often can help maintain its pace as well.
• Healthy - Be attentive of the food pyramid and the food groups.

Carbs - They serve mostly as a great source of fuel for our activities. Avoid more refined carbs, like white rice, which are harder to digest and offer fewer health benefits. Go for whole grains instead, and make sure to get 6-11 servings of grains a day. (It's not hard...)

Protein - This keeps our organs and body strong and functional. Try to avoid getting your protein from red meats, which contain a lot of unhealthy fat. Fish is a great source of protein, but try to stray from fish that are more likely to contain mercury, like swordfish and shark. Three to 5 servings of 2-3 ounces of meat is recommended.

Fruits and veggies - For fruits, avoid getting canned or other prepared fruits with 10 teaspoons of sugar per cup; go lite rather than heavy on syrup. Get the most colorful fruits possible. Also, try to vary the fruits and vegetables you eat. You'll need 3-5 servings of veggies and 2-4 of fruit a day.

Dairy - It is recommended you have 2-3 servings of this a day to maintain good bone health. Avoid full-fat dairy products.

Fat - It supports many of our bodies functions, such as building membranes. Avoid trans fats and stick to saturated, monosaturated, polyunsaturated, and omega 3 and 6 fats. Just be sure to pay attention to nutrition information, and don't fall completely for "Trans-fat free" labels! Vegetable oil and other more natural sources (avocado, nuts, etc.) are the best way to go. Try to avoid exposing them to heat, air, or light because that can damage good fat. Also, try to eat nuts and other fats without extra salt, sugar, or other additives... go for black beans instead of refried!

Sugar - It's a great way to keep fueled, but too much substitute sugar can be bad for digestion, thus you may want more regular sugar.

Salt - You should have less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day... and this is very easy to surpass, considering how much is packed in cans of soup.