When it comes to food, it is easier to turn to what we know and enjoy instead of taking the time to find healthier alternatives. Unfortunately, for many people the word “healthy” often translates to something that doesn’t taste good. Luckily, there are more food choices available that are not only lower in fat and calories than traditional foods, but also taste great.

The easiest way to compare fatty foods with healthy foods is by quantity. Oftentimes, your favorite food item can carry more calories and fat alone than an entire meal that is less in calories and fat. So why stick to eating one unhealthy food item when you can have a larger meal filled with foods that are actually good for you? Case and point: instead of eating one scoop of chocolate ice cream in a cone (which contains 280 calories and 16 grams of fat), you can indulge to your heart’s content by eating a bowl-full of sliced strawberries, vanilla cookies, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and one scoop of nonfat chocolate frozen yogurt - and it all contains 279 calories and 5 grams of fat! How’s that for overindulgence without that guilty feeling? So the next time you’ve got a sweet tooth, skip the easy out and enjoy a hearty helping of this chocolaty and fruity dish.

When going out to eat, many of us try to be health conscious, namely by ordering a salad. But did you know that your favorite Caesar salad with grilled chicken can contain as much as 560 calories and 37 grams of fat? Instead of this seemingly “healthy” salad, opt for an appetizer of large cocktail shrimps with cocktail sauce (5 should be your limit), a cup of steamed spinach, lean broiled filet mignon (5 oz), and one baked potato with one teaspoon of butter. You can get this entire meal plan for the same calories as one Caesar salad with grilled chicken and only 16 grams of fat. Salads tend to come with a load of fatty, thick dressing, which packs on unwanted calories and fat.

When it comes to soups, it is important to remember that the ones that are creamy or contain cheese, translates to more grams of fat and loads of calories. While that broccoli cheddar soup may be tempting it can hold as much as 345 calories and 24 grams of fat. So what can you eat instead that will be better for you? A bowl of tomato soup, along with half a turkey sandwich (make sure to only add tomato, mustard, onion, avocado, and lettuce), plus one Oreo cookie for your sweet tooth. You can enjoy all this for the same number of calories as one bowl of broccoli cheddar soup, but only 8 grams of fat.

If you’re starting to notice a trend, that’s because there is. For each single food item loaded with calories and fat, you can easily switch it out for a larger meal with more choices at either the same amount of calories and fat or less.

Related Articles
	How To Eat Your Way Through A Craving Cravings – we’ve all been there – that growing desire that feeds into a need that morphs into an obsession. What gives rise to these cravings? Where do they come from? And, most importantly, how can we control them? It may not surprise you to find that most experts, despite mountains of research   ...Read more		How to Substitute Fatty Foods for Health Foods Not all of us have the same metabolism we did as children. As you get older, your body will react differently and as things in life change with the passing years, so will your diet. You don’t have to be a nutritionist to know how to eat healthier. Instead of feeling like you have to give up on your   ...Read more