The term dieting is sometimes seen negatively, but many of us spend a large part of our lives dieting, whether to lose weight, improve health, or even train for a major race or sporting event.

Whatever type of dieting you are considering it's worth doing some homework before you commit to a plan. By their very nature restricted eating plans can be difficult - almost all of us have foods we like that won't fit into one plan or another - so it's important to look at several different options to see which one will best fit your lifestyle.