Are you trying to lose weight, tone up, or eat healthier? You do not have to starve yourself or go one one of the crash diets, where you are probably going to lose weight by being unhealthy, then when you can't take it anymore (which probably won't be too long after you start the diet) you gain all of that weight back and then some.
Here are some cheap and easy ways to cut calories and fat while you are still eating the foods that you like. More than likely you won't even realize you have made any changes to your diet, until you look in the mirror or get on those dreaded scales.
- Substitute regular mayonnaise for mustard or reduced calorie miracle whip
- Eat from a smaller plate or a saucer and try not to fill your plate completely full
- Always order your chicken grilled instead of breaded and fried
- Trim the fatty parts off of your meats
- Cut a piece of meat in half, and only eat half
- Eat lots of tuna or fish, but make sure the tuna is in water instead of oil
- Drink coffee instead of cappuccino
- Eat fresh fruit instead of canned fruit in syrup
- Eat vegetables with dip instead of chips and dip
- Eat lean ham or Canadian bacon instead of regular bacon
- Ask for the bread basket to be removed from the table as soon as you sit down
- Eat a cheese pizza or a veggie pizza instead of the more fattening toppings
- Put lettuce, tomato, onions, or pickles on your sandwich instead of cheese
- Eat slowly to fill you up faster and reduce the chances of going for seconds
- Don't eat croutons or cheese on your salad, or at least limit the amount that you put on the salad
- Reduce the amount of butter the recipe calls for
- Drink light beer instead of regular beer
- Eat vegetables whenever possible
- Order a sandwich only, instead of the fattening fries, chips, or onion rings
- On a sandwich, take the top piece of bread or the bun off and throw it away
- Only eat half of the piece of cake or pie
- Watch your portions. You do not have to eat the entire bag of Cheetos or the entire tub of ice cream.
- Chose no sugar added fruit juices
- Ask for a cup of soup instead of a bowl
- Dip your fork into the salad dressing instead of pouring ridiculous amounts on the salad
- Top angel food cake with fresh fruit and reduced calorie cool whip for a healthy desert
- Put chips or snacks into portion controlled baggies instead of eating from the container
- If you are craving sweets after a meal, take a bite or eat a miniature candy bar instead of the whole piece of cake
- Eat fruit instead of drinking fruit juices
- Season vegetables with lemon and herbs instead of butter
- Eat jello, it only has 10 calories per serving
- Eat turkey burgers instead of hamburgers
- Use reduced fat or lower calorie dressing for your salads
- Always leave a few bites on your plate
- Don't add meat to spaghetti sauce
- Blend a smoothie with fresh fruit, plenty of ice, low fat or sugar free yogurt, or skim milk
- Eat fresh fruit instead of dessert, or use reduced calorie cool whip as a topping for the fruit
- Order pizza with thin crust
- Order a vinaigrette dressing instead of a mayonnaise based dressing
- Select an appetizer as your main dish. If you are still hungry, order a salad with it.
- Whenever possible, eat whole grain breads, pasta, rice, etc. instead of white.
- Pay attention to serving sizes on the container
- Eat fat-free cream cheese instead of regular
- Eat a cupcake instead of a piece of cake
- Switch to diet cokes instead of regular
- Never supersize the meal
- Drink plenty of water, especially before you eat
- Eat baked chips instead of regular chips
- Freeze and eat grapes, watermelon, or cantaloupe for a frozen treat
- Reduce the amount of cheese the recipe calls for
- Use vegetable sprays instead of butter or oil when stovetop cooking
- Order ice cream in a cup instead of a cone
- Ask for the sauce to be on the side
- Don't drink your calories. There are a lot of drinks out there that have way more calories than you would think.
- Use a no-calorie sweetener instead of sugar
- When eating cake, take a middle piece with less icing or scrape off some of the icing
- Stop eating when you are satisfied, not miserable
- Carry granola bars, pretzels, or a low-fat snack with you so you don't overindulge on the more fattening options
- Save the chips or fries that come with your meal for a later time
- When eating out, ask for a to-go box and immediately place half of your meal in the to go box to eat at a later time instead of overeating in one setting
- Often a recipe will have a lower fat option for making the dish. Follow that recipe instead.
- Substitute skim milk or 2 percent milk for whole milk
- Eat egg whites or egg beaters instead of the whole egg
- Order a kid's meal when eating out
- Eat light yogurt
- Drink light beer or wine instead of frozen or fruity alcoholic drinks
- Use lemon instead of tartar sauce for your fish
- Substitute steamed vegetables instead of the potato, rice, or pasta side dish
- Eat a side salad instead of fries or baked potato
