Indians are foodies, and it is a very hard thing to give up your favorite food so you can reduce calorie intake. Of course, it has crossed our minds if there is any possibility to lose weight without giving up on your favorite food? Good news is that there are a ton of simple food swaps to lose weight out there that will help you stay within your calorie limit and your taste buds will not have to suffer! We’d also like to remind you that calories are not everything when it comes to good nutrition. Quality of food is what matters ultimately, and this food swap list will help you improve the quality of what you eat.
- Use avocados: This is one of the most simple food swaps to lose weight. Avocados have a smooth texture and spread on your salad very easily, apart from having a very natural and earthy taste. They have a creamy and soft consistency which can help substitute for cheese and butter in your salad.
- Whole fruits: Consumption of whole fruits over juiced or in any other form is a great way to reduce weight. Blood sugar levels react differently to juiced and whole fruits. Also, when fruits are blended, they lose most of the fiber and roughage which is important to increase metabolism rate. Liquids do not curb your appetite, and you will land up consuming something extra as well.
- Oats over cereal: Granola and cereals are overly hyped. These generally come with added nuts and fruits, which increase the calorie count. You can instead switch to oats and even make your own granola-with fruits and nuts, minus the oil! Oats are great for the heart, fill you up, are great to taste and overall, help you lose weight over processed granola. A smart swap to lose weight, isn’t it?
- Hummus or mustard instead of mayo: Mayonnaise and butter pretty much have the same calorie count. Add them with bread, and you have a series load of calories on your plate. If you swap it with hummus or mustard, you’re only consuming half the calories of mayo! It is a delicious and simple hack.
- Chicken Breast: Skinless, boneless chicken breasts are a great alternative to drumsticks with skin. This has more protein and less fat on your plate hence is a healthier option to go with. The swap almost saves 50 calories for every 100 gms.
- Baked over fried: Next time you’re thinking of binge eating on fries, think again! They have more than 400 calories versus oven baked hash browns, which are only 98 calories rich per 127g serving. Choose a baked alternative for everything else too, without a great compromise in taste!
- Cook right, eat right: Studies show that lightly steaming or stir-frying over intense or pressure cooking preserves the nutrients more. Thus, you don’t need to dread salads anymore. Stir-fry them with some dry seasoning so it becomes more appealing to the taste buds. Similarly, you can switch food ingredients like a potato with sweet potato, white rice with brown rice (unpolished) and pasta with whole wheat pasta. This is a smart food swap to lose weight!