Top Seven Ways to Cut Calories

In our increasingly fast-paced world, it seems to be more and more convenient to go to a McDonald's drive through. When you lead a busy life, it's much easier to chow down on a burger and fries than go home and bake chicken. While the latter option is healthier for you, the former is quicker - and more fattening. What if you sit down to eat? Restaurant plates are huge - bigger than any plate you own at home, with much larger portions. A mid-afternoon slump can cause sugar cravings - so you end up buying a Snicker's bar rather than the bag of trail mix.

Here's the good news: cutting calories doesn't have to be rocket science. A few tweaks to your diet can slash hundreds, possibly thousands, without any extra effort.

1.) Look for healthy options. Many fast-food chains now offer salads and cups of fruit in place of fries. Opt for grilled chicken instead of fried. Go easy on salt, cheese and mayonnaise.

2.) Check out the kids' menu. It's more and more common for adults these days to order a kid's meal. A Happy Meal consisting of 4 Chicken McNuggets, small fries and an apple juice box contains 520 calories and 23 grams of fat. Swap the fries for apple dippers and you save 140 calories and 11 grams of fat.

3.) Eat smaller portions. The trick is to know what healthy portions look like - a 4 oz baked potato, for instance, is approximately the size of a computer mouse. Read labels and use measuring cups and spoons - measure 1 cup broccoli, measure 2 tablespoons olive oil, and so on until you get a good idea of exact measurements.

4.) Eat more often. Your body does a much better job metabolizing four to six small meals, rather than two or three large ones. Be sure to fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, raisins, and celery.

5.) Drink water. Confusing thirst for hunger happens more often when you might think. When you start to get hungry, drink a full glass of water, and if you still feel hunger pangs, have a piece of fruit.

6.) Keep healthy snacks in the car. This will help you avoid temptation to turn to fast food when you're out and about, as well as overeating when you get home. Choose a snack that can last you a long time and fill you up on very little, such as trail mix.

7.) Replace a chocolate milkshake with a fruit smoothie. Not only do you get the nutritional value, you get the delicious taste of fruit. Beware: many commercial fruit smoothies are made with ice cream and added sugars, so it's best to make your smoothie at home. Use fresh fruit, plain (not frozen) yogurt and skim milk. Experiment with different fruits - strawberries, bananas, mangoes, pineapples - and write down your favorite combinations. Homemade smoothies also make a great after-school snack.