Diet and Weight Loss: Morning Habits to Help You Lose Weight

Before you leave the house for the day, grab a sack and pack a healthy lunch and low-calorie snacks like fresh fruit or low-fat cheese. You'll be prepared to eat a sensible meal when hunger strikes later on, so you don't reach for junk food. Choose fiber-rich foods like whole-grain crackers to keep you feeling fuller longer.

Do you have your dessert in your coffee cup each morning? Specialty coffees with lots of added sugar, cream, or flavored syrups can add up to more than 500 calories each. Use skim milk or sugar-free flavors instead. Or try green tea for a morning jolt. It has catechins, nutrients that may promote weight loss.

Most standard drinking glasses are far larger than a serving of juice. That makes it easy to consume more than you should. And many fruit juices have as much sugar in them as a can of soda. But they also have lots of vitamins and minerals that are great for you as you start your day. To pour a more sensible portion, use a small juice glass.

Slow down and think about what you're eating. Appreciate the smell, look, and taste of even a simple breakfast. Don't watch TV or scroll through social media when you eat in the morning: just breathe, relax, and enjoy a peaceful meal. This practice could help you eat less and lose weight.

It's easy to supersize portions that pack more calories than you need without even knowing it. Keep measuring cups and spoons where you typically dish out breakfast. Measure foods like cereal or milk before you place them in the bowl so you serve yourself the right amount.

Some sunlight on your skin can actually help you burn a little bit more body fat. Research shows that people who soak up a few rays in the morning tend to have a lower body-mass index (BMI), or a leaner, slimmer physique, than people who step out in the sun later in the day.

Every morning, write up a quick list of what you'll eat that day. Planning meals ahead of time can help you choose lower-calorie foods. If you've already decided what to eat for your day's snacks and meals, you may be less likely to reach for high-calorie convenience foods like fast-food burgers or fries.

This nutrient may help you lose weight because it makes you feel fuller longer after you eat. It's also harder for your body to store it as excess fat. Another perk of protein: Your body uses more calories to break it down than it uses for carbs or fat. Go for protein-rich breakfasts, such as an egg and turkey sausage on whole wheat toast or a Greek yogurt smoothie with peanut butter and berries.

Do some moderate exercise before you sit down to eat in the mornings. Working out on an empty stomach actually helps you get better results from exercise. Prebreakfast sweat sessions can help you burn more of your body's fat for fuel.

One or two glasses of plain H2O before you eat breakfast may help you lose weight. Water has no calories, but it's satisfying and curbs your appetite, so you may not want to eat such a big breakfast afterward. It also stimulates your metabolism to help you burn calories.