You can eat as much as you want, as often as you want -- as long as what you eat is low-calorie, a new study reports. People who eat a diet heavy in vegetables and fruits, low-cal dairy, whole grains and lean meats. Those who consume more low-calorie foods also dramatically increase their intake of nutrients.

Low-calorie density foods are those that contain less calories ounce for ounce while still retaining their mass. Good examples are fruits and vegetables full of fiber and water -- there's still bulk to chew, without the extra weight gain. Calorie dense foods are those full of flour, fat and sugar -- which pack on the pounds even if eaten only in small portions. These include processed snack foods -- especially anything with high oil content like potato chips -- as well as sugary treats and fatty meats. Men who consumed the low-calorie diet consumed 425 less calories, and women consumed 250 less -- though all participants on the diet consumed considerably more food by weight. If you like to eat, eat light.