Read food labels -- Look for the calories per serving, serving size AND the number of servings provided by the packages you buy. To help control portion sizes, consider switching to smaller packages with fewer total portions. Many of your favorite foods and beverages now come in single-serving sizes or 100-calorie packaging.

Trick your mind -- Research suggests that serving beverages in tall, skinny glasses or dinners on smaller plates may give the appearance of more volume. This might help you trick yourself into thinking you had a full portion and make you less likely to go back for seconds.

Write it down -- Keeping a food journal increases your awareness of what you are consuming and may uncover habits that lead to excess calories.

Take small steps -- Cutting just 100 calories out of your diet each day (or doing just 100 extra calories-worth of exercise a day) may result in about a one-pound weight loss per month - that's 12 pounds a year.

Choose wisely -- Although certain foods and beverages contain calories, they may be providing important nutrients to the body. Calorie-containing beverages, such as milk, many fruit juices and sports drinks, can also provide important nutrients in the form of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals.