Eat This, Not That!
Eating right doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the foods you love. Here are ten easy substitutions you can make to your diet to allow you to get the most from your calorie goal while enjoying the foods you love:
1. Use low-fat dairy products. There is no need to switch to fat-free sour cream, milk, and cheeses unless you prefer them. Low-fat options often taste almost the same and your tastes will quickly adapt to prefer them.
2. Use lean beef cuts. Beef flank steak is a great alternative to fatty steaks. It is a very thin cut that is usually sold rolled up. I usually ask the butcher to put it right into a marinade there at the store so that it is tender and delicious when I'm ready to barbecue. Flank steaks should always be marinated. Once it has marinated for a day or two, you can just cook it like any other steak. The calories and fat are much less, but the taste is just as great.
You can also save a lot of calories by choosing lean ground beef or ground turkey. Laura's brand makes a ground beef that is only 4% fat.
3. Choose whole grain breads and tortillas. The calories may or may not be less, but the whole grain supplies fiber. Fiber makes you feel full and satisfied with less food.
4. Cook at home. Whenever possible, prepare your own food. Even when restaurants list calorie information, portion sizes vary and you might be eating more than you think. Also, restaurant foods tend to be high in sodium, which encourages water weight gain.
5. Generally, fruit based desserts are the best choice. Be sure to check the calories before eating any dessert.
6. Bulk up your snacks while adding minimal calories. Instead of eating a handful of nuts, try a handful of nuts on a big plate of salad greens. The salad greens will add very few calories, but will make you feel much more full. Also, you'll be adding important vitamins and minerals.
7. Don't drink your calories. Switch from sugar-filled sodas to diet sodas, or better yet, water. This could save you hundreds of calories per day, and as many as 20 lbs per year!
8. Pile on the veggies. Choose veggie pizzas and add vegetables to every meal. Eat your veggies first.
9. Always choose grilled or baked meats and fish instead of fried.
10. Eat what you want to eat (within reason). If you crave dinner foods at breakfast, go ahead and follow that instinct. Just be sure to track your calories and to keep portion sizes healthy.
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