“Eating a muffin for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and pasta for dinner, that may not sound like much, but you're actually bogging your whole body down with these foods,” Kravich says.

“People tell me they eat only a few times a day, but the fact is, they fill up on the unhealthy stuff,” says Kravich, who tutors clients in New York City and Los Angeles on getting lean and healthy, “Eating less starches, packaged foods, and heavy protein still adds weight, because they turn right into sugar, which then turns into fat.”

So what can you eat? Eating four smaller, healthy meals—with a 3 to 1 serving ratio of vegetables—and a snack every day will turn your body into a fat-burning, lean-muscle machine in no time. “It takes energy to break down and digest food and that burns calories. Eating every two to four hours will keep you blood sugar balanced and get your metabolism moving,” Kravich says.

And like mom use to say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. “Breakfast actually means to break a fast,” she says. “And if you don't eat breakfast, your body will hang on to every calorie of your next meal in order to support you. It's an act of survival.”

Kravich suggests these ideal food combinations to drop that belly fat:

Breakfast: Rather than eating egg whites or yogurt alone, add some fruit or vegetables to your eggs, because their enzymes will help you digest. An egg white omelet with turkey bacon sounds healthy, right? You're better off eating a whole omelet (for the omega 3s) with veggies or a side of fruit so you can digest. Your favorite cereal and milk is enhanced with fruit as well, for the same reason.



Snacks: One of your meals can be liquid-based, like a smoothie or protein shake. An apple with a handful of almonds or a smear of almond butter is ideal, as is a hardboiled egg with five cherry tomatoes.

Dinners: Again, it's all about eating the proper combinations, even if 
you're craving an old favorite. If you have to have Chinese food, go for something such as cashew chicken with broccoli, brown rice and a side of sautéed spinach, (avoid white rice). Pizza? That's cool, but instead of having two slices, have one and add a side salad. “Just be sure to add an equal size of veggies and fruit to whatever else you're eating,” Kravich says.

Eating healthy foods ensures portion control, too. “It's really hard to eat more than two slices of a multi-grain bread, but it's easy to eat a loaf of white bread,” she says.