When you're on a diet, it can be really hard to stick to it. It's okay when you're eating at home and have the time and energy to prepare meals according to your diet plan. For most of us, though, life gets busy and there are times when we eat on the run, or even just want to go out for a meal with family or friends. That's when the diet tends to go out the window.

So here are a few guidelines to follow when you're dieting. Some of them are simply things to keep in mind when you’re ordering a meal at a restaurant, but others can help you when you're planning meals at home.

Fried Foods

This is probably one of the most important tips of all. Don't eat fried food! Anything that's fried in oil or fat will absorb some of that oil into the food itself. And when you eat it, you absorb the oil or fat too. So avoid fried food, and your diet plan will work a lot more effectively.

Fresh Foods

It's always better to eat fresh vegetables, rather than cooked or canned ones. If you like raw vegetables then eat them that way. Cooking vegetables can remove as many as half the vitamins they contain. Processed vegetables in cans also don't contain the same level of nutrients as fresh vegetables. Also, buy organic vegetables if you can, or at least check to see if they're pesticide free.

Eat A Variety Of Foods

Although many diet plans advocate eating lots of one type of food, and perhaps avoiding another group of foods, such as carbs, most nutritionists don't agree. It's generally considered best to eat a healthy balance of foods from a variety of food groups. So aim to eat a mix of grains, vegetables and meat. Eating a wide variety also makes it easier to create different meals, so you won't get bored quite as quickly.

Alcohol

It's always a good idea to give alcoholic beverages a miss. Beer in particular can be very fattening, and other forms of alcohol can also add to your calorie count more rapidly than you might think. It can also impair your judgment, meaning you're more likely to snack on rubbishy foods because you've forgotten your diet plan.

Eggs

There's some debate about the role of eggs in a diet plan, so it's probably a good idea to go easy on them. Some experts have suggested only eating around 3 eggs a week, and no more than one a day. Certainly it's best to avoid eating fried eggs, because of the added fat content. Boiled, poached or scrambled are much better options.

Skipping Meals

When you're dieting, it's easy to think, well, if I skip this meal, then I won't add any calories to my daily total and I'll lose weight faster. This actually doesn't work, and can often do more harm than good. Your body needs regular intakes of food to operate efficiently. Many nutritionists are now recommending we eat 6 small healthy meals a day, rather than 3 big ones. Breakfast is particularly important, to help your body get up and running for the day. It doesn't need to be a big heavy meal, but it's important for kick starting your metabolism.

Chocolates

There are few people who can resist chocolates, but they should only be a luxury you eat on rare occasions, rather than part of your daily diet.

Losing weight isn't always easy, and following a rigorous diet plan can make it more difficult to stick to your diet. Instead, experts suggest that you should follow some simple guidelines that alter the way you eat on an ongoing basis. This is generally far more effective than the latest fad diet.