You may be thinking to yourself that the foods in the Smart Foods that Fuel Your Body section have features in common. Your right! Getting enough protein, selecting high fiber foods, eating for volume (lots of nutrients/fewer calories) and eating quality carbohydrates all contribute to helping you feel fuller and eat less. So here’s how to put it all together when you ask the question “Is It Smart”? First, if its one of the foods we’ve discussed, such as high volume food, lean protein, high fiber choice, or quality carb, then yes its smart! If your faced with a choice that’s not smart, then begin asking “how can I make it smarter?” Instead of hamburger, is there a lean chicken ? Instead of sourdough or white bread, is there whole wheat? Instead of white rice, how about looking at healthy veggies? Remember that small substitutions do add up to make a big difference in achieving your weight loss goals. Sometimes you’ll even make choices that include all four! How about a tuna salad with a 1/2 cup of beans and 1/2 whole wheat pita. You’ve got lean protein , fiber, volume and quality carbs- Woohoo!