Want to lose a pound this week? You need to burn or cut out 3,500 calories. The best way to approach it without feeling deprived is to cut out a few calories here and there throughout your day, making lower-calorie food swaps so your taste buds don't miss a thing. Here are 10 simple ways to reduce your daily calorie intake so you can start dropping pounds right now.
In Your Bowl
Choose plain yogurt (53 [2]) over vanilla (110 [3]).
Calories saved: 57
For Pancakes
Top pancakes with maple yogurt (38 [4]) instead of maple syrup (104 [5]).
Calories saved: 66
For a Morning Thirst Quencher
Eat an orange (62 [6]) instead of drinking OJ (112 [7]).
Calories saved: 50
On Your Sandwich
Smear hummus (23 [8]) on your sandwich instead of mayo (90 [9]).
Calories saved: 67
For Lunch
Make your sandwich on a whole-wheat english muffin (130 [10]) instead of using two slices of whole-wheat bread (220).
Calories saved: 90
In Your Glass
Sip on a glass of water with a slice of lime (0) instead of a can of Coke (143 [12]).
Calories saved: 143
Send the Bread Basket Back
Skip the dinner roll (76 [13]) with a pat of butter (36 [14]) before dinner.
Calories saved: 112
Spoon This
Choose a bowl of split-pea soup (220 [15]) over broccoli cheddar (360 [16]).
Calories saved: 140
Sip on This
Enjoy a glass of wine (120 [17]) instead of a vodka tonic (175 [18]).
Calories saved: 55
For Dessert
Enjoy this homemade vegan chocolate ice cream made with frozen bananas (167 [19]) and pass on Ben & Jerry's chocolate ice cream (250 [20]).
Calories saved: 83