Substitution: The Key to Dieting

Often we become so desperate during diets; craving that one food that once was delicious but now you no longer can eat it without feeling mad at yourself. One way I've found to combat this weakening of diet morale is substitution. That's right. Switching some of your favorite non-healthy foods for their how ever so slightly more healthy versions is an easy and effective way to ward off cravings.

Some of the most commonly made substitutions:

Diet Soda instead of Soda

- Every soda you drink is hundreds of empty calories and useless crabs that you don't need. Instead of drinking regular sodas: try seltzers or diet sodas. Diet sodas usually use a non-sugar sweetener like Splendid. Diet sodas are looking better and better compared to regular sodas. They have diet sodas on the market now that have no calories, and no crabs. Coke is even working on their new Diet Soda, called Diet Coke Plus which is diet fortified with vitamins. Instead of drinking a regular soda, grab a diet next time and you won't have to break your diet and you still get that bubbly taste you love.

Whole-Grain instead of White

- Every slice of bread you eat can have fewer calories, less fat, and more nutrients that your body loves. Just start eating wheat or whole grain bread. Whole grain is low in fat and extremely low in cholesterol. Wheat is also a good source of Selenium and Manganese. If possible it's good to substitute whole-grain bagels instead of plain bagels. Every little bit more of nutrients and every little bit less of fat helps you get closer to your goal.

"Fake Butter" instead of Butter

- Many people don't like to use the "fake butter's" but believe me it can mean a large amount of calories and fat switching to something other than butter. Many companies are now even starting to offer fat-free versions of their butter. Considering even "I can't it's not butter" has 8g of fat per serving (compared to regular butter which is 11g of fat per serving0, having zero is amazing. I strongly encourage those of you who enjoy a good buttered roll every once in a while to give some thought to alternative butters.

Veggie Burger instead of Hamburger

- No one can deny the delicious nature of the hamburger. However; burgers are just so unhealthy that someone who is trying to have a well-rounded, responsible diet can't really eat them. That's where veggie burgers come in. They don't taste exactly the same but I know that I have become accustom to them and don't mind them. Veggie burgers are a much healthier alternative to traditional hamburgers. Veggie burgers generally have a fraction of the fat and calories of hamburgers and also provide more in way of nutrients.

For those who can tolerate it, a veggie burger is a very good substitution for a hamburger.