A hypothetical scenario: With the last of my kids off to college, this is a great time for me to try to lose the 30 pounds that I have been struggling with for years.

I’ve had success on a low-GI diet, but many of my favorite foods have super-high GI ratings, and I’m afraid I won’t stick with it if I have to give them up completely. Is there a compromise?

Question: How can I slim down without giving up carbs?

Answer: It is a good idea to cut back on foods that are high on the glycemic index since they cause fat-storing spikes in blood sugar.

But there are a few tricks that you can try so you won’t have to stop eating your favorites. For starters, pair high-GI foods with low-GI fare like eggs, cheese, poultry, fish or lean beef.

The protein in these foods slows the gut’s absorption of sugars, cutting the GI of high-carb foods by 33 percent or more. For example, when a baked potato is topped with cheese, its GI drops from 93 to 39.

You can also enjoy a small side of veggies drizzled with 4 tsp. apple cider vinegar. This may slows starch absorption. With a more stabilized blood sugar level, it’ll be easier to achieve a slimmer physique you’re after. [source: Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D.]