You’re trying to eat healthier, but there are so many pitfalls along the way. Afternoon cravings. Birthday celebrations. A co-worker who loves to bake and share the latest creations.
Maybe there’s a better way than always saying “No thank you.”…..after all, eating is social!
Chew on this… instead of letting yourself be de-railed by high-calorie, low-nutrient choices, swap in a super snack that adds nutrition and keeps calories low. That way, you won’t miss out because you have to do without.
1.
Screaming for ice cream? Save calories and fat by eating frozen yogurt. Freeze your own Yoplait® Whips Fluffy Mousse-style yogurt. They come in lots of fun flavors- you can just pop those convenient little cups into the freezer and enjoy it frozen.
2.
Defense against chocolate. Forget the high-calorie, high-fat candy bar from the nearest machine, (the range for a candy bar is 180 calories and 8g fat to 280 calories and 14g fat). Try a new 90-calorie Fiber One® chocolate fudge bar. They’re delicious, keep fiber and energy up, and hunger and cravings down.
3.
Persuaded by pie? It’s okay on occasion, but if you’re cutting back, go for the berries instead. Fresh, naked berries with nothing but their own sweet and tart flavor saves you 330 calories!
4.
Think twice about juice. 1 cup of juice can be 100-150 calories. Water with a squirt and a twist of natural orange, lemon or lime juice and zest will save those 100 calories for something else.
5.
Put the squeeze on cheesecake! This one is tough to fight, but consider this. Eat just a couple bites instead of a whole piece, which can set you back 300 to 500 calories. Or, simply swap in a cup of Yoplait® Light Raspberry Cheesecake. It’s only 110 calories and provides 20% of the calcium and vitamin D you need every day.
6.
The dreaded bread. Instead of the scone with your name on it at the nearest coffee shop, DIY Oatmeal-Blueberry Muffins. Freeze them and bring one to work each day. You’ll save 200 calories, easy and get all the yummy goodness of oatmeal.
7.
Bagel substitutions. Skip stopping at the nearest bagel shop. Try 100-calorie bagel thins with a light spread of nut butter, which gives you extra protein to tide you over to the next meal.
8.
Love lemon-lime soda and iced tea? Don’t drink that 100-140 calorie soda or the iced tea with sugar. Stir up your own drink, Sparkling Raspberry Tea at 40 calories per serving.
9.
Say “yes” to red velvet! Pass on the frosted cupcakes and sandwiched whoopee pies. Satisfy your cravings with new Yoplait ® Light Red Velvet Cake yogurt and resist the temptation of high-calorie treats.
10.
Carrot Cake Swap. Just eat the fresh carrots dipped in fat-free Ranch dressing, instead of tossing them into the cake. Think of the calories and fat you’ll save, the vitamin A you’ll get, not to mention the time spent shopping, shredding, baking, and frosting.
11.
Savor the crunch. When it comes to chips, it’s all about the crunch! Skip the full-fat chips and the 10 grams fat and try these satisfying crunchy snacks:
• Baked chips (0g fat)
• Pretzel chips (0g fat)
• Pistachios (0g fat)
• Whole-grain tortilla chips (1.5g fat)
• Whole-grain lowfat microwave popcorn (2.5g fat)
• Baked whole wheat Pita chips (4g fat)
12.
Cookie love. Instead of grabbing the nearest giant office cookie at roughly 300 calories, bake a batch of your own, (think Healthified Fudgy Almond Cookies) for a more reasonable 70 calories.
13. Escape the B-day cake:
• Skip the cake for a sparkling water. Have dessert later with your family.
• BYO treat, be it a low-cal snack mix, sliced fruits or veggies and dip.
• Better yet, challenge others and be the first to bring a low-cal snack mix, fruit or other lower-calorie celebration food. Then everyone buys in to it.
14.
Take the fry out of French fries. Try oven-frying, baking at a high temperature with a small amount of oil. For a total of 130 calories and 270% daily value of vitamin A, try Asian–style Oven-Fried Sweet Potatoes or Oven-fried Potato Wedges.
15.
Taken with bacon? The latest craze, bacon is in everything from apps to pizza to fudge. Guess what? Here’s one you can have, just in smaller amounts. You’ll flip over any of these delicious bacon recipe choices.
It’s okay to give in…occasionally. Sometimes you just need to enjoy whatever it is you’re craving. If you can, keep it to a small piece of cheesecake, a few chips or a couple bites of apple pie and savor it.
Then, don’t beat yourself up. Just look for a better snack swap the next time. SOURCE: eatingbetteramerica.com
