Simple Ways to Cut Your Calorie Intake Tip #6

This next tip will not only save you calories but will also save you money. Instead of going out to the movies and spending 13 dollars on a movie ticket and then about 10 dollars on popcorn and a drink, you can make your own movie night at home that will be much cozier and healthier.  

Movie theater popcorn can pack 400-1200 calories. To some people that is a days worth of calories, not to mention a lot of sodium! Along with the popcorn, you can add another 300 calories for a sugary soft drink to wash it all down. That is quite a lot of calories just for one outing to the movies. 

Instead I suggest going to the grocery store and picking up a box of the 100-calorie popcorn packs to make in the comfort of your own home. If one pack isn't enough you don't have to feel bad about having a second!  If you want a drink with that stick to water or possibly a flavored seltzer if you want something different. 

At the end of it all, you can save yourself up to 25 dollars and 1000 calories! 

Simple Ways to Cut Your Calorie Intake Tip #5

This next tip I have been doing for years and is extremely healthy, nutritious and delicious. Concocting your own smoothie at home can save more than 300 calories than those found in restaurant versions. Many restaurant smoothies have juices and extra sugar found in them that attribute to those extra calories. By making your own smoothie you have control of what is put into it and how much is yielded. 

My personal way of making a smoothie consists of:

1 8 oz. dannon vanilla yogurt

4 frozen strawberries

1 small-medium banana


This recipe usually yields about a 12 oz. cup 

The reason I use the word concoct is because you have the freedom of switching up the fruits to whatever you like, but just remember that there is sugar found in fruits so don't go overboard with them! I also make sure to freeze one of the fruits I use to help thicken the smoothie. It is used as a double duty job so I don't have to use ice, which in most cases will water down the smoothie and I personally like my smoothies thicker. In the end, making your own smoothie at home allows you to have fun with what you want in it and the type of consistency that is formed. You make yourself a yummy treat and save on all those unwanted calories!

Simple Ways to Cut Your Calorie Intake Tip #4

Those dairy nights can be a killer on your waistline, from the carb loaded pasta to to the creamy filled sauces. A cup of pasta with Alfredo sauce can run you 500 calories. Instead I suggest a cup of squash spaghetti with some marinara sauce. It's something a bit different but still tasty and it's about 100 calories for the whole meal.

Here are the instructions on how to make spaghetti squash:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2087338_cook-spaghetti-squash.html

Simple Ways to Cut Your Calorie Intake Tip #3

Tip #3:

If you are a fan of power drinks, then I suggest going for the lighter versions. It can save you up to 250 calories, which can go towards something edible. I have provided you with the calorie content for each of the major brands to see how the regular version stacks up to its counterpart.

Powerade- 50 calories for every 8 fl. oz.
Powerade Zero- 0 calories/8 fl. oz

Gatorade- 50 calories/8 fl. oz.
G2- 20/8 fl. oz.

Vitamin Water- 50 calories/8 fl. oz.
Vitamin Water Zero- 0 calories/8 fl. oz.

Simple Ways to Cut Your Calorie Intake Tip #2

Tip #2 for ways to help shave off calories from your day is not only simple but tasty too!
During the day it's normal to want to pick at some sort of snack so you can curb your appetite in between meals. What better snack then trail mix and what better way to be more aware of what's in your trail mix than to make it yourself.

Store bought trail mix packs are loaded with way too much sugary dried fruit and candy. I miss those days when they were packed with raisins and peanuts. Today a 1/2 cup of the store bought trail mix packs can run you up to 350 calories! To help cut that number in half try making your own trail mix with 1/2 cup of fiber one cereal, 15 peanuts and 15 raisins. Voila you now have a nutritious snack for the day that you won't feel guilty eating!

Simple Ways to Cut Your Calorie Intake Tip #1

Over the next couple of days I will be providing you all with some quick and easy ways to help cut your calories for the day. There are so many ways to still enjoy life's little pleasures but in a healthier way.

Tip #1

Added air in food gives you volume without the  added calories. These types of food allow you to eat less but feel like you are eating more. These include your foods that are either puffed, popped or whipped. So here are some replacements for your food choices to save you those calories.

1. Puffed wheat cereal in place of a sugar cereal
2. Yoplait's Whips! in place of its original yogurt blend
3. Popchips in place of rippled potato chips
4. Buttering your bread with whipped butter in place of the stick butter

Stay Seated

Many times when you are standing around you usually start noshing at food and don't stop until you notice that you just went through a full bag of chips. When you have a guest over you sometimes stand by the counter and just start grabbing at food when you weren't even hungry. These actions constitute as mindless eating or grazing. It is very hard for your body to know when you are fully hungry if you keep putting things in your mouth that are in front of you.

I find it very important that you give yourself meal times to eat throughout the day and make sure you sit for those meals and designate a time and place to eat. When you schedule yourself time to sit and eat you will find yourself snacking less, thereby decreasing those unnecessary calories.

Beating the Blues

I would say from experience that the first thing anyone does when they are down is reach for sweets. Anything that can make them feel better in the moment s what they are searching for, whether it be a tub of Ben and Jerry's or a chocolate bar. I would tell you that it is alright to feel down but the best way to feel empowered is not reaching for the things that will only make you feel worse in the long run.

Instead, I say reach for a fruit or vegetable that you can pick at as if you were picking at a sweet. I like grapes or baby carrots because you can take a nice bunch and just pick at them while you are sitting and contemplating in whatever is bringing you down. Food is used for comfort but its the right foods you choose that will make the difference.

At the end of the day keep your chin up and stick to healthy eating!

The Truth About Probiotics

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that are found in our gut. Probiotics are beneficial for overall digestion and keeping our bodies healthy. Take a look at various sources of probiotics and how they can benefit your body!

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/probiotics-10/slideshow-probiotics?ecd=wnl_day_100411