12. Top pancakes with fresh fruit instead of syrup. There’s nothing
like a good stack of pancakes every now and then. Cut calories by
skipping the maple syrup.
13. Snack on air-popped popcorn instead of chips. Craving something salty? Air-pop some popcorn, and add a dash of salt—three
whole cups is only about 100 calories. That’s way more satisfying
than six greasy chips.
14. Order red wine or beer instead of a margarita. You’ll drink
about half as many calories.
15. Choose brown rice over white. White rice is stripped of many
essential nutrients (like fiber).
16. Choose whole-wheat pasta. Unlike regular pasta, whole-wheat
pasta has a nutty flavor that’s filled with antioxidants and fiber.
17. Eat oatmeal instead of sugary cereal. Options like Cap’n
Crunch and Frosted Flakes are filled with sugar, while oatmeal
boasts heart-healthy benefits.
18. Bike to work instead of driving. Obviously this won’t work for
everyone, but if your office is only a few miles away, bike to work
to boost endorphins before the workday starts! (Paying for gas is
no fun anyway.)
19. Pack a lunch instead of eating out. Bonus: That vending machine will look far less appetizing after you eat the meal you pack.
20. Eat at least three times a day instead of skipping meals. When
you don’t make the time to squeeze in a midday meal, you end up
feeling tired and grouchy—and you set yourself up for overeating
later.
21. Use mustard instead of mayo. For tomorrow’s turkey sandwich, skip the fat-filled mayo and spread some tasty (and naturally fat-free) mustard on the bread.
22. Spread avocado on bread instead of butter. Add a dash of sea
salt and some sliced tomato for a great midday snack.
23. Choose lean meats instead of fatty ones. For a boost of protein
without the fat, choose lean meats like turkey and chicken over
pork and beef.
24. Opt for marinara sauce instead of white sauce. We doubt
penne a la vodka is made with Grey Goose, so the extra calories
in white sauce aren’t worth it.
25. Get a doggy bag instead of overeating. To avoid eating more
than planned, ask the waiter to wrap half of it up before it even
gets to your table.
26. Chew slowly instead of quickly. What’s the rush? Studies
show people who eat faster consume more calories.
27. Eat at the table instead of in front of the TV. Dining in
front of the television can lead to serious overeating.
28. Eat breakfast instead of sleeping in. It may be temping to
hit the snooze button more than once in the morning, but
allow some time for breakfast—it may help jumpstart your
metabolism and wake you up before you head to work.
29. Order black coffee instead of a latte. If that caffeine fix
is calling, order a simple black coffee. A soy-mocha-extra-shot-frappuccino extravaganza isn’t worth the calories (or
cash).
30. Choose toast instead of a bagel. A single bagel can be the
caloric equivalent of five slices of toast, so fight that craving
and enjoy a slice or two of whole-wheat bread instead.
31. Use a medium plate instead of a large one. Smaller plates
(about eight to 10 inches in diameter) can save you more than
20 percent of the calories you’d eat in a larger-plate-sized serving.
32. Eat cereal from a bowl instead of a box. A few mindless
handfuls of cereal can turn into more than a bowl-sized serving.
33. Eat hard-boiled eggs instead of fried eggs. Who needs
extra grease in the morning? Drop some eggs in boiling water,
and cook them up for a protein-packed breakfast.
34. Eat with chopsticks instead of a fork. It may be a challenge, but it’ll stop you from speed-slurping those noodles.
35. Go grocery shopping when you’re full instead of when
you’re hungry. People spend more when they shop hungry—
and choose less healthy foods.
36. Stop when you’re full instead of when you clean the plate.
A plate half-full means more leftovers and fewer calories!
37. Eat raw nuts instead of nut butter. Nut butters contain
more fat and sugar than raw nuts. Plus, it’s easy to overeat
peanut butter.
38. Nap instead of sipping on an energy drink. Energy drinks
can pack as much sugar as six doughnuts, while catnaps are
always calorie-free.
September Edition
23