In today's fast-paced lifestyles, it's not always easy to eat healthy. Now couple this problem with weight loss and it seems almost impossible to ever lose those unwanted pounds. My experience as a wellness coach has helped and encouraged many women who have difficulty losing weight because they are confused about what foods to eat for healthy weight management. Here are two popular questions, answered.

Question: Can fast foods be part of a healthy weight loss program?

Answer: Not everyone has the ability to eat home cooked meals throughout the day. Quite often many people don't have the time, or they eat on the run between appointments, or they dine with friends at restaurants. Fast foods can be included in a healthy weight loss program. The trick is to know how to make wise choices.

A good rule of thumb is to share a meal with a friend or eat half of the meal and take the other half home as leftovers. Instead of drinking calorie-loaded sodas, try water or iced tea instead. Choose salads topped with grilled chicken breast, fish or beef and ask for the salad dressing to be served on the side. Try tacos with salsa, chopped onions and tomatoes with a sprinkle of cheese. It is recommended to stay away from fried foods because they are loaded in fat and calories. However, an occasional small portion won't harm.

You can still lose weight without eliminating favorite foods. It's all about portion control, wise choices, and only occasional visits to restaurants.

Question: Are vegetarian diets healthy ways to lose weight?

Answer: Don't be fooled into thinking vegetarian diets are healthier choices when losing weight. Vegetarian eating plans that include consuming large amounts of high-fat, high-calorie foods will not be helpful for weight loss. Also, vegetarian diets may lack certain nutrients found in animal products such as calcium, iron, protein, vitamin B 12, vitamin D, and zinc. These important nutrients come from the following food sources:

Calcium: dairy products, fortified soy-based beverages, tofu, collard greens, kale, broccoli

Iron: cashews, spinach, lentils, chick peas, fortified bread or cereal

Protein: eggs, dairy products, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh

Vitamin B 12: eggs, dairy products, fortified cereals or soy-based beverages, tempeh, miso

Vitamin D: fortified foods and beverages including milk, soy-based beverages

Zinc: whole grains, nuts, tofu, green leafy vegetables

A vegetarian diet is a good choice for losing weight if it is low in fat and includes all the important nutrients needed for health.

Despite popular belief, fast foods can be included in a healthy weight loss program and vegetarian diets don't guarantee healthy weight loss.

For more helpful advice and information, and to download a free copy of "The 10 Shocking Myths Women Believe about Weight Loss and How You Can Avoid the Same Mistakes" visit: http://secretstogetslimnow.com/