Anyway, before I became pregnant my husband and I did the Kettleworx workout plan and ate very well. Remember? Here are some tips that I have found to keep food tasty while helping to cut the calories.
1. Use good fats- Olive oil is considered a good fat, butter is not. When I would make omelets in the morning I would use Olive Oil to saute my vegetables instead of butter. I thought for sure that I wouldn't like it but it was tasty.
2. Replace fruit juice with Crystal Light- I don't know if I am the only person in the world who has to have juice with breakfast but I have found that I can use Crystal Light or Kool Aid made with Splenda and I am just as satisfied than I am when I drink orange juice. This cuts my daily intake by 200-300 calories!
3. Spices really are the spice of life- Oregano is delicious sauteed with vegetables and its a really yummy additive to many other meals. Instead of using fats and meats to add flavor I suggest you try adding some spices. I also love curry-a lot!
4. Brown rice instead of white rice- Brown rice helps to stave off hunger longer so it leaves you feeling fuller, longer. White rice has no nutritional value and should be avoided. You can make a batch of brown rice on a Sunday and portion it out for the rest of the week. I use it in stir frys and lettuce wraps and just about anything else where a carb or two is needed.
5. Chocolate is evil and so is ice cream- HAHA! I love ice cream so much and it is hard to get that feeling from anything else. I have found that mini Drumsticks (150 calories) or Fudgesicles are perfect for that little something that we all crave.
6. Vegetables are your friends- Vegetables help add bulk to your meals while keeping the calorie content low. For instance, when I make my omelets in the morning, I sautee a bunch of onion, spinach and mushrooms and add some tomatoes at the end so they don't get too mushy. I add oregano to the vegetables while they are cooking for extra zest. I put this in my 3 egg white (one yolk) omelet and top with shredded parmesan cheese. The parm is low in calorie and this breakfast is so satisfying and delicious. You can also have a piece of whole grain bread or a whole grain english muffin to round out this meal.
7. Chicken stock instead of water- When you are cooking your whole wheat pasta, brown rice or vegetables you can increase flavor ten-fold by cooking with Chicken or Vegetable Stock rather than water. This intensifies the flavor without the added calories!
8. Water is your friend- Drinking 8 glasses of water a day can help stave off hunger so you don't go crazy come dinner time. A handful of almonds provides the same filling factor. This is more of a tip than a transform your meals but it is very helpful nonetheless.
9. Fruit- makes an excellent dessert or quick breakfast. I love fruit smoothies using frozen fruit, non-fat yogurt and a splash or water or skim milk. This makes a light and refreshing snack too. Yogurt provides the calcium that all women need and the fruit is loaded with anti-oxidants.
10. Craving something cheesy but don't know what to do? Reach for the Babybel cheese. Laughing Cow and Babybel have 30-40 calories per serving and you can spread it on sandwiches, fruit, whole wheat crackers or vegetables. The possibilities are endless.
What are some ways you have found to make your favorite foods healthier?
I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and WeightWatchers SmartOnes blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
