Small changes for a slimmer you.
6. Make swaps for your go-to unhealthy food.
Is there one not-so-healthy food that’s always in your kitchen? Swap it out for a better-body alternative. For example, if you love dunking tortilla chips into sour cream, replace the sour cream with plain, nonfat Greek yogurt. Is pasta your poison? Ditch the flour-based pasta for whole grain varieties, like in this One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta. Then learn the Top 5 Ingredient Substitutions to Cut Fat and Calories from Your Favorite Dishes.
7. Eat breakfast—every single day.
Skipping the morning meal slows down the metabolism and may cause you to eat more throughout the day. Treat your body to nutrients that help you lose weight naturally, including healthy fats, like those found in avocados. Add Avocado and Egg Protein Wrap or Breakfast Quinoa to your go-to breakfast menu.
8. Reduce or eliminate refined sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Refined sugar is a prime culprit in weight gain, while artificial sweeteners confuse the metabolism. Choose meals and beverages that are naturally sweetened with fruit, honey, or stevia, a plant-derived sugar substitute that contains zero calories. Learn 50 Names for Sugar so you can better understand food ingredient labels.
9. Learn what a healthy serving size looks like.
It’s easy to overeat if you don’t have a sense of proper portion sizes. It’s not hard to learn, and once you get in the habit, it takes no time at all to serve meals. When you start using portion control, measure out the serving size recommended with each recipe. Stick to eating that portion—and no more. Try pre-portioned recipes like Skinny Lasagna Rolls or Skinny Burrito in a Jar.
10. Go vegetarian one or two days each week.
A vegetarian lifestyle has been linked to reduced calorie consumption and lower body weight. If you’re not interested in going completely vegetarian, benefit from a weight loss boost by going meat-free one or two days per week. Vegetarian meals tend to be lower in calories, but they can be just as filling as their meaty counterparts. Dig into Hearty Lentil & Vegetable Soup or Cheesy Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.
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Want to discover delicious, convenient clean-eating recipes? Check out our Pinterest boards Healthy Family Meals and Easy Recipes.
I think you need to just do what you enjoy to be honest otherwise it becomes very hard to stick with it.