You only have to look online to see the latest fad diet that promises an easy and quick way to lose weight, but whilst they may work in the short term, most are not sustainable. However, making a few simple changes to your diet could have a big impact.
If you’re a fan of butter on your toast or jacket potatoes, change it for an olive oil-based spread. Butter contains saturated fat which can increase ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, whereas olive spread contains healthier unsaturated fat.
Crisps with your lunch every day? Try popcorn instead. Popcorn is a wholegrain and is lower in calories than crisps but try to avoid popcorn that’s been coated in toffee, etc. as that negates the benefits of swapping in the first place.
Love your ice cream, you don’t have to give it up altogether, just choose a healthier version. Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream contains 270 kcal per 100g (1093 per tub!) whereas Halo Top Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream contains 135 kcal per 100g (360 per tub).
‘Full fat’ fizzy drinks can quickly increase your calorie intake. A standard can of Coca Cola contains 139 calories, a can of Diet Coke contains less than 1! A standard can of Monster Energy contains around 230 calories, Monster Energy Ultra contain only 11. Make sure you check the label for these hidden calories.
Finally, keep your portion size under control. You can be eating great healthy foods, but if you’re piling your plate high, you are still consuming calories. A great way to keep your portion size under control is to use smaller plates, sounds obvious but can make a huge difference. If you want to be exact, give some thought to weighing your food, you’ll be surprised how small 75g of rice looks in reality.
We always say life is about balance. You don’t have to cut out all your favourite foods to have a healthy diet. Some healthy choices and portion control can have a huge impact.
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