food swaps

Pumpkin pie, hot chocolate, and frosted cookies loom in the holiday future, which means it's time to get the calories in check. Unfortunately, holiday treats can make squeezing into that fabulous sequined number a challenge that we'd rather not handle. Instead of going on a crash diet at the last minute, try cutting back now with these simple (and hardly noticeable) calorie slashing tips. It will make nibbling on that piece of pecan pie a little less guilt ridden and a lot more indulgent.

• Ask for salad dressing on the side and dip when you need a dab.
• Chew on a piece of gum instead of eating a cookie.
• Sub in mustard for mayonnaise.
• Use lemon juice and a dash of olive oil for a healthy and low fat salad dressing.
• Choose healthier toppings when ordering pizza.

For more ideas, keep on reading!

Great tasting foods such as creamy soups, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in calories. So if you can make simple food swaps that reduce calories, but still satisfy your taste buds, you can drop pesky pounds or prevent weight gain.

When making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I skip the sugar-based jelly and substitute real fruit instead. And when I crave ice cream, I opt for a little bowl of vanilla Greek yogurt with maple syrup since it has less fat and fewer calories, but contains more protein. What about you? Share some of your simple food swaps that make your daily diet healthier and lower in calories.