The Volumetrics Diet - How to Eat More and Lose Weight

fruit yogurt muesli parfait strawberries blackberries raspberries blueberries

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 10 April 2012

Dieting would be a breeze — if it didn't make us so hungry. Enter Volumetrics, the science-backed strategy that doctors and big-portion lovers swear by. Here, a slimming cheat sheet of the latest findings of Penn State nutrition professor Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., author of The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet:

Incorporate nutritionally dense, low-calorie foods (broth, greens, luscious fruits like watermelon) into main entrées to make them heartier — for instance, 3 ounces of salmon served atop a plateful of spinach or 3 ounces of chicken sliced and stir-fried with a big bowl of broccoli and sprouts.

Brush your teeth or chew minty gum before eating — subjects who did so ate less.

Choose airy snacks, like mousse-style yogurt, rice cakes, or puffed cereals. These combine well with a small piece of cheese or a handful of almonds to make you feel more full.

Add fruit to dessert — whip up crumbles and parfaits with more fruit and just enough starch or dairy to satisfy taste buds.