| If you talk to the average person about dieting, | | | | anything that sounds unhealthy? Then I think you |
| they'll usually assume it's about deprivation and | | | | know why salsa is a much better choice than most |
| misery. It may be difficult to reign in some of your | | | | chip dips. Chips aren't exactly a healthy snack, but if |
| nasty habits at first, but it doesn't have to be a | | | | you're going to indulge now and again, the least you |
| miserable experience in the long run. And you | | | | can do is cut out the fatty processed creamy dips. |
| certainly don't have to deprive yourself of good | | | | 5. of those aforementioned chips, you should try |
| tasting, satisfying foods. It's just a matter of a few | | | | more air-popped popcorn. Do you know anyone who |
| simple substitutions, and you will be well on your way | | | | doesn't like popcorn? Either do I. You'll also like that a |
| to weighing less. | | | | cup of popcorn has about 30 calories compared to |
| The following are 10 food substitutions that will save | | | | 140 calories in an ounce of tortilla chips. And we all |
| you thousands of calories over the course of a year, | | | | know an ounce of chips isn't going to be where you |
| and not be bland or boring in the process. | | | | stop. |
| 1. Instead of chocolate, try carob. Chocolate is first | | | | 6. Bacon… any way you slice it, turkey is |
| on the list because it's first on most people's list of | | | | better than pork. Bacon is probably the single biggest |
| guilty pleasures. I'm not here to tell you to do away | | | | reason many of us can't be vegetarians. |
| with anything forever. Moderation is key to lasting | | | | It's a fatty vice that's hard to quit. Purdue turkey |
| health. | | | | bacon has about 50 calories in 2 slices and 1 gram of |
| In fact, dark chocolate has gotten good press in | | | | saturated fat, where some regular pork versions can |
| recent years for having potent antioxidants that fight | | | | have 14 times the saturated fat and more than twice |
| free radicals, destructive molecules that are | | | | the calories. |
| connected to heart disease and other ailments. But if | | | | 7. Turkey burger instead of beef. Turkey shows up |
| you like to do more than dabble in chocolate's | | | | again on our list, this time in place of your usual beef |
| decadent sweetness, try to substitute the little | | | | burgers. Since there's less fat, some people may miss |
| known carob, a Mediterranean tree that produces | | | | the flavor it adds. But even the most stubborn of |
| pea-like pods that produce the sweet concoction. | | | | beef backers can grow to love the lower fat turkey |
| It's not that carob is superior nutritiously, but it has a | | | | version. Once you put on all your favorite toppings |
| couple things going for it: Carob has 51 calories per | | | | (lettuce, pickle, tomato) the difference is really |
| ounce to cocoa powders | | | | negligible. |
| 98. But even more significant is that carob is naturally | | | | Don't assume that all ground turkey is leaner than |
| sweeter than (or, perhaps more accurately, not as | | | | beef. Some are packaged with dark meat and even |
| bitter as) chocolate, so you don't have to use as | | | | fat-laden skin. As always, be a smart consumer and |
| much sugar with it in recipes. | | | | read the nutrition labels. |
| 2. Instead of white bread, switch to whole wheat. I | | | | 8. Instead of a full-fat creamer, go nonfat. It won't |
| grew up on white bread, but have spent most of my | | | | take long for you to get acclimated to the non-fat |
| adult life exclusively buying whole wheat. Once you | | | | version, and if you have a couple coffees a day |
| go whole wheat, you wonder how Wonder Bread | | | | those calories can really add up. |
| ever tasted like bread to you. Since it's whole grain it | | | | 9. Sack the soda and try sparkling water. I know, |
| has more nuanced and substantive taste. White | | | | you're thinking… water? But if you spike it |
| bread is bleached flour (does that even sound close | | | | with a few twists of lemon or lime it becomes a |
| to healthy?) and is enriched with things like high | | | | flavorful drink. Besides saving calories, you also avoid |
| fructose corn syrup. Whole wheat bread is | | | | some of the other soda ingredients (sugar, |
| unprocessed, so your body has to spend energy | | | | phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate) that may cause |
| (calories) digesting it. | | | | long-term health issues. |
| Be a wary shopper, because not all wheat breads are | | | | 10. Instead of salt, spice food with herbs. The |
| created equal. | | | | preference for salt is a learned behavior. Which |
| Manufactures will try to trick you with fancy word | | | | means you can unlearn it. If you are adventurous in |
| plays on wheat. Make sure that the first ingredient is | | | | the kitchen, try using garlic, oregano, pepper, sage, |
| a "whole" grain. | | | | tarragon, turmeric, cinnamon, and other herbs and |
| 3. Instead of a salad dressing, try vinegar. Salad | | | | spices. If you want the easy way out, Mrs. Dash |
| dressings are a great way to kill a perfectly healthy | | | | comes in all kinds of no-sodium, no-calorie |
| salad with hundreds of useless calories. Use a | | | | combinations. |
| balsamic vinegar and it will add nary a calorie to your | | | | Using these tips you can limit the amount of diets |
| salad. | | | | and your time spent on diet reviews. Don't forget to |
| 4. Drop the dip and use salsa. Tomatoes, cilantro, | | | | check out the diets in review diet blog for more |
| onions, maybe garlic… have you heard | | | | healthy tips! |