Reducing Diet Tip#10:

Avoid Pitfalls!

Here are five common pitfalls to avoid:

1. You must not eat any fruit, bread, grains, starchy vegetables or dairy products other than cheese, cream or butter.

2. Stay away from diet products unless they specifically state "no carbohydrates." Most such foods are for low-fat diets, not controlled carbohydrate plans.

3. The words sugarless, sugar free or no sugar added are not sufficient. The label must state the carbohydrate content; that's what you must go by.

4. Many products you do not normally think of as foods, such as chewing gum, breath mints, cough syrups and cough drops, are filled with sugar or other caloric sweeteners. They must be avoided.

5. Be wary of prepared salads at salad bars or deli counters. For example, cole slaw or even tuna fish salad may have been prepared with sugar.