Strategies for Success

Get practical step-by-step assistance for long-term weight control.

Learn how to choose a balanced diet or healthy eating plan.

Receive practical tips for controlling portions.

Use this food diary to reflect on your eating habits and identify where you can make healthier choices.

Discover tips on the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements for weight control. 

Learn about energy balance and find strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

Follow these DASH meal plans to help lose weight while enjoying delicious heart-healthy meals. Menus are based on eating 2,000 calories a day; remember to increase or decrease serving sizes for other calorie levels

Learn how portion sizes today compare with the portion sizes 35 years ago. See what you know, and what you don't by taking this quiz, then check your answers on the back.

Get tips on choosing food portions that are right for you, both when eating out and at home.

Discover where to start when choosing and evaluating a weight loss program.

Find weight management resources on a variety of topics.

Find strategies and resources for maintaining a healthy weight. Also in Spanish.

Learn about the causes and concerns of being underweight, and discover tips for gaining weight in a healthy way.

Use this 31-day calendar to challenge yourself to one choice for a healthy weight each day.

Use this handout to measure your hunger level on a scale of 1 to 10.

Use this worksheet to track your hunger level, mood, and more to discover why you eat emotionally, or when you are not physically hungry. 

Discover tips and healthy activities to support your partner with their weight goals.

View resources to help with gaining weight in a healthy manner, including Healthy Ways to Add Calories [VA.gov; PDF | 0.12 MB]  and Healthy Ways to Add Protein [VA.gov; PDF | 0.18 MB] .

Learn how to deal with stress during weight loss. 

Find nutrition tips to promote healthy weight gain for people who are underweight.

Learn the recommended portion sizes for common foods and how to measure portions using household objects.

Explore the concept of calories—what they are, why are they crucial, and why do some individuals struggle to lose weight despite being  on a calorie deficit?