There are at least five types of diet. If planning to use any of these, it is important to choose one that is in keeping with ones specific requirements.
Whether there be certain allergies, convenience factors, or social context to consider, either of these strategies should be chosen as a workable solution, not something that will inevitably fail.
1: Exchange-Type Diet
- This diet is based upon food selection and serving size. As set number of servings (equal in calories) from each of the food groups comprises the exchange-type meal plan.
The good thing about this approach is the emphasis on choice and variety. For example, for breakfast the dieter might choose from either two slices of bread or one cup of oatmeal (as both contain the same number of calories) for their starch component.
Learning the caloric content of foods and knowing which ones to choose from could help one to establish an effective life-long nutritional plan.
2: Flexible Diets
- As only one or two dietary components are monitored with this diet, it is up to the individual to make the right choices. For example, the diet might ask for one to monitor only the fat content of their foods. However, it doesn't take into account factors such as serving size or the different types of allowed food choices.
Too many simple carbohydrate calories (a food that is not monitored), for example, could actually result in excessive weight gain. In saying this, the flexible diet can teach one to control cravings for certain types of food (fat for example).
3: Formula Diets
- Formula diets are generally quick-fix solutions to a problem that requires long-term management.
With this diet, one or more meals are replaced with a special formula, which contain carbohydrate, protein and fat in specific ratios. The problem with this approach is most people quickly regain the weight after stopping the diet.
Also, a formula diet does not teach one to make correct nutritional choices, given all the guesswork has been taken out of the equation for them.
4: Fixed-Menu Diet
- This diet is one of the easiest to follow, as the right foods have been selected, and a list of these foods is used as a plan from which to prepare meals.
On the flip side, there is a lack of variety among foods, making this diet potentially boring, which could discourage adherence. Also, one would need to have access to the precise types of foods featured in this diet - an unrealistic expectation for the majority of people when one factors in travel, and changing social contexts.
As mentioned, a long term solution is needed to keep the weight off. The fixed menu diet does not really teach adequate food selection skills.
5: Pre-Packaged Meal Diet
- This diet stipulates that one buy special pre-packaged meals that come in appropriate serving sizes. Many of these diets fail to effectively teach food selection skills and the nutritional composition of food. They can also be very costly. The popular Jenny Craig diet fits this category.