Did you know that, whatever diet plan you decide upon, you can get a flying start to losing those unwanted pounds by simply adding three delicious foods to your daily intake?

These foods are nourishing, contain all the healthy ingredients that help you lose weight, and also do not cost a great deal. They should be in any weight loss diet plan.

The first food I want to tell you about is apples. These are available all year round and keep for a very long time. Eat three a day. Yes, three. One before each meal.

You'll never tire of them because there are so many varieties to choose from. Each apple is a nutritious, highly concentrated snack rich in vitamins and minerals, fibers and antioxidants, as well as water.

Most people take apples for granted and only eat one now and again. If you really want to lose weight you'll start by eating an apple before each meal. They're highly portable, so you can eat them anywhere. You'll notice the difference it makes to your general health and well being within days. And it will make losing weight so much easier.

In a test organised by a leading American university, 346 people lost 6,126 pounds of fat in 12 weeks simply by changing their eating habits in this way. For variety, try slicing them up before eating, with or without their skins.

The second food I want to mention is the humble sweet potato. This, like the apple, is vastly underestimated. Sweet potatoes contain calcium, fiber, iron, protein, vitamins A, B, and C and all the complex carbohydrates your body needs.

They are easy to cook in the traditional oven or in the microwave. Be careful not to cook them for too long - a common mistake. You can even eat them raw. Add a little butter or a sprinkling of herbs for taste if you wish, though it shouldn't be necessary. Or make them into a pie, laced with onion slices - delicious! You'll probably never want crisps again.

The third food is spinach. You can combine this on occasion with the sweet potatoes. Spinach includes essential antioxidants, calcium, folic acid, potassium, magnesium and vitamins C, E and K. One thing it doesn't have much of is calories, so that's another plus.

Next time you do your shopping (and remember - never shop when you're hungry), stock up on these three terrific foods, and from now on make them an important part of your daily diet. Losing the pounds will then come naturally, whatever diet plan you decide to follow.

As to which weight loss program is right for you, check out our home page for an independent review of three leading weight loss programs.

Copyright © 2009 Philip Gegan