Easy Ways to Cut Calories at Every Meal

Easy Ways to Cut Calories at Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yet most dieter's skip breakfast to "save the calories for later". A study in the Journal of Obesity Research found participants who skipped breakfast were not only grouchier, but they also ended up eating approximately 200 calories more than those who ate breakfast.

*When scrambling your eggs take out every other egg yolk. Calories cut per yolk 50.

*Use real fruit spread rather than butter on toast. (If you must have some butter flavor use the spray on butter.) Calories cut per tablespoon 10.

*Switch to Unsweetened Almond Milk rather than Skim Milk for your cereal. Calories cut per cup 50.

*Skip the juice eat the fruit. You'll get more fiber and less sugar. Calories cut on average 40 calories. (Based on 1 fruit = 1 cup of juice)

Easy Ways to Cut Calories at Lunch
Lunch can make or break your calories for the day if you don't plan ahead. Most of us are rushed in the morning and don't take the time to pack a lunch. My advice, pack your lunch the night before. You may even find a little peace of mind as you lay down to rest for the night knowing that you have gotten a head start on your day.

*Trade mayonnaise/miracle whip for your favorite low calorie salad dressing. Ranch on bologna, Asian Sesame on a sub, or Sun-dried Tomato on Pastrami are some of my favorites. I usually use the Walden Farms Zero calorie dressings so I save hundreds of calories a week and the sandwiches taste so much better! Average calories cut 90 for mayonnaise and 60 for Miracle Whip.

*Start with a salad. The wonderful thing about salad greens is that they are only about 10 calories a cup so you can eat a huge portion for under 100 calories. A study by Rolls found that those who ate a salad before a meal ate approximately 75 calories less for that meal. Calories cut 75.

*Choose turkey from the deli instead of beef. You will not only cut calories but you also will cut the fat by approximately 25%. Calories cut per ounce 20.

Easy Ways to Cut Calories at Dinner
As Americans we tend to sit down and eat large dinners. Fast food has made dinner into a monochromatic mass of fat and calories. Planning ahead for dinner saves families money and calories. Crock Pot cooking is an easy way to plan ahead. Throw the ingredients into the pot before leaving for work and when you come home your dinner will be ready, plus your house will smell yummy! (See below for an easy Chicken Stew Crock Pot Recipe.)

*Eat your double your veggies first. Fill up on the healthy stuff before digging into the higher calorie meat. Calories cut approximately 100 per cup. (1 cup chicken = 1 cup corn.)

*Cook with broth rather than oil or butter. Calories cut 100 per tablespoon.

*Flavor your steamed vegetables with herbs rather than butter. McCormick makes a great vegetable seasoning that can be sprinkled over your vegetables. Calories cut 110 per tablespoon.

Easy Ways to Cut Calories while Snacking
Proper snacking can help you reduce your hunger at meal times and keeps your energy up throughout the day. As with lunch and dinner planning your snacks ahead of time is always beneficial.

*Trade your candy bar for Turkey Jerky. The protein in the jerky will help you feel more full than a candy bar and you won't get the sugar crash. Calories cut approximately 30 calories per ounce.

*Eat pretzels instead of chips when craving a salty snack. Add a bit of spicy mustard to help kick up your metabolism. Calories cut 40 per ounce.

(From Above) Chicken Stew Crock Pot Recipe
6 potatoes, diced
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery, sliced
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle of light or zero calorie salad dressing

Add all the vegetables to the crock pot and mix with half the bottle of dressing. Coat the chicken breasts with the remaining dressing and place on top of the vegetables. Do not stir until the chicken is fully cooked.

Cook on high for 8 hours or on low for 12 hours.