The Best Overall Diet is…

Which diet is best?  It’s a common consideration, especially when your goal is weight loss or a specific health concern like high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Each year U.S. News & World Report assembles experts in diet, nutrition, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and food psychology to review a lengthy list of eating plans, and this year’s results are here.

Despite its popularity in the media, the Paleo Diet was not a top pick based on the criteria of the reviewers.  In fact, for the fifth year in a row, the DASH Diet was named Best Overall Diet by the panel of experts.  This relatively unheard of diet was originally developed to lower blood pressure without medication and is based on high-quality ingredients, including vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy.  It’s no wonder this common-sense healthy eating plan earned top honors in the review.

Find out where your favorite diet ranks on the list or learn more about expert favorite eating plans that may work for you and your lifestyle in the full list of diets here.

Remember to focus on sustainable lifestyle changes when adopting any new diet to ensure long term success in your health goals.  Eating out at restaurants can be an easy fit into those healthy lifestyle changes when you know what to look for.  Dietitian-recommended menu choices meet strict nutrition criteria and include ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats to support your goals: