If weight loss is the client's primary goal, and for many it is, there are sound options that include smaller meals, more exercise, and more nutrient-rich food choices. Depriving the body just to lose weight might work in the short-term, but cannot be sustained long-term.

Anti-inflammatory food plan
If clients are embarking on a diet change, a good place for them to start is with a food plan that can be maintained in conjunction with their lifestyle. An eating plan they might consider is a food-sensitivity program. Food-sensitivity tests are easily available and often covered by insurance. These tests will determine which foods are causing a reaction in the body. The clients will then create an eating plan to eliminate these foods, allowing their digestive system to take a break from dealing with constant inflammation. The foods that most often wreak havoc on the body are dairy, gluten, corn, eggs, peanuts, and soy. Once clients accomplish this type of non-deprivation eating plan, they might feel confident about adding a liquid component.

REST THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Have clients imagine that they were just hired for a job and then told they would be working every single day; they would have a morning, afternoon, and evening shift and the only time they would rest was during the middle of the night. That situation is the job most digestive systems undertake on a daily basis. Trying a liquid meal plan allows the digestive energy to go elsewhere in the body and work on other things, such as cellular repair.

A simple way to experiment with a liquid diet component is to add fresh-made smoothies and juices. If clients are new to this approach, it is best for them to start with a drink that is half fruits and half vegetables as the taste is more pleasing. As they acclimate, they can begin to make primarily vegetable-based drinks to lower the sugar load. A small amount of natural sweetener, like stevia or monk fruit, can help with the flavor.

FRESH SMOOTHIES
Generally speaking, people do not get enough fresh, raw fruits and vegetables in their diet. There are many health benefits in doing so and making smoothies makes the process simple.

Suggest the following starter ingredients to clients: vegetables (spinach, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, and yellow squash), soft fruits (berries, banana, melon, pineapple, peach, and kiwi), and extra additions (flax, hemp, and pumpkin seeds and vegan protein powder, natural energy powders, coconut oil, ginger, and small amounts of herbs). Clients can create a nutritionally sound smoothie and drink in lieu of a meal. Once they accomplish that goal, they should try going a whole day on smoothies.

JUICES
If clients are considering a liquid-only component to their eating plan, they will need a juicer. Because the fiber is removed during the juicing process, the nutrients are absorbed very quickly and can be used to make a great pre-workout energizer or mid-day pick-me-up. Clients should juice harder fruits and vegetables, such as carrot, celery, cucumber, summer squash, apple, pear, and citrus fruit. If they have diabetes, they should check with their doctor about a low-sugar vegetable juicing plan and avoid strong fruit juices.

If clients work in these components into their eating lifestyle, they will experience many health benefits, including more nutrients, decreases in digestive-related inflammation, more energy, and possible weight loss. The key to long-term success is to experiment with different eating philosophies and find one that can be personally maintained.