I follow something called "sense". It is a Danish variation of the regular plate-model. It goes roughly like this:

3 meals a day, consisting of:
1-2 handfuls of veg
1 handful protein (less factory processed is better)
1 handful carb (incl fruit, this handful is optional)
1-3 tbl spoon fat ("real" fats preferred, ie real butter over more processed stuff)

spices, herbs, flavouring in smart amounts (so fx teaspoon of ketchup for flavour is fine, drenching your meal in it not smart)

Add to this 3dl (just over a cup) of dairy (<5% fat) per day

There are no forbidden foods, but some are not smart. If I know that I will be eating bread in the afternoon at work, I skip my carb at lunchtime, f.x. Flex is allowed, even encouraged.

Last school year, I lost around 50 lbs on this, from 210. This school year I have been too stressed to continue, but I have maintined my weight and am going back on after Christmas.

For me, it works because I don't have to count calories, or weigh stuff. Just do it by sight. It is about amounts and proportions. And I felt right from the start, that this is a way of eating that I can live with for the rest of my life. Which for me was a pretty cool revelation, having never ate particularly healthy before.

So, it is not a very virtuous diet, but it is overall pretty healthy, and although the rules could be stricter to be more health concious, it seems like a sensible diet, making it easier to follow long term. I use diet not about weightloss eating, but just about what I eat.

DanishFlyer