BY ELSON HAAS, MD

Start viewing vegetables as high-nutrient, low-calorie foods. For healthy nutrition and weight reduction, make sure that vegetables constitute half of your eating plan. Ideally, choose vegetables that are in season—they’re packed with more micronutrients. Make sure to include plenty of fresh greens and low-starch vegetables, trying to minimize your consumption of potatoes and beets (these are examples of high-carb, high-calorie veggies). Focus on all of the colorful choices available in the produce section: peppers, zucchini and other squashes, broccoli, green beans and cabbage. Such fresh choices will provide important phytonutrients that are indispensable for maintaining health and leanness. Ultimately, a low-fat protein and fresh vegetable-focused diet is a great beginning to weight reduction.

Dr. Elson Haas is the author of The False Fat Diet.