by Starla Ross

Created on: October 13, 2010

Watching your weight doesn't always mean making drastic changes.  Keep the foods you love, but keep them healthy.  With a little change here and there, you'll grow to love a healthier lifestyle.  You'll feel more fit and have more energy.  

Consider these ten ways to change-up your favorite foods with a more flavorful and healthy twist:

1.    Sneak in veggies.

If your family is still resistant to vegetables, sneak them in where you can.  Add small, chopped vegetables to your meatloaf recipe.  Add broccoli to your family's mac and cheese.  Adding vegetables to the foods your family already loves will add flavor to your dishes and make them better for you.

2.    Add pizzazz to your pizza.

Forget boring, and leave the greasy pepperoni behind.  Add interest to your pizza with some new toppings.  Using a thin crust from your grocer's local bakery department, add a spoonful of pizza sauce and loads of veggies to the top.  Just a sprinkle of cheese and ten minutes in a 400-degree oven will hold everything together.  

3.    Use the real deal, just less of it.

If  you really love half and half in your coffee, drink it.  If you just have to have real sour cream on your baked potato, eat it.  Just eat less of it.  There's nothing wrong with full-fat items, as long as you keep the servings small and enjoy every bite.

4.    Re-look at the way you look at lunch.

Instead of fast food drive-thru, consider other fast food options for lunch.  Greek yogurt, cheese, or cottage cheese combined with a selection of fruit equals a quick and healthy lunch.  If you're really short on time, think about a healthy meal that can be warmed up quickly, like Smart Ones by Weight Watchers.

5.    Add a smile to your sandwich.

Get the same flavor (and half the calories) by making your sandwich an open-face sandwich and using just one slice of bread.  Using whole wheat bread, add turkey or chicken and one slice of cheese.  Toast quickly in the oven.  Add slices of apple to the top for an extra crunch and flavor.

6.    Replace red meat with poultry a couple of times per week.

Did you know some of your favorite family meals can be just as tasty made with chicken?  Beef in beef stroganoff can easily be replaced with chicken.  Tacos with ground beef can be replaced with chicken fajitas.  Ground chicken and turkey

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>