The biggest reason that holds people back from improving their diet and health is their habits. No one wants to feel deprived or constrained.
However, if you want to be able to fit into a trendy dress or your old jeans, you don’t necessarily need to go on a strict diet. Making tiny food changes, without sacrificing taste or satiety, is the surest way to improve your health, lose excess weight, and feel full of vitality.
Implement these 12 simple tricks and get ready to watch the number on the scale go down.
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1. Stevia Instead of Sugar
Stevia is a natural low calorie sweetener that contains an abundance of nutrients, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and iron.
Since it contains no sugar, it helps you avoid blood sugar crashes that lead to tiredness and cravings for unhealthy foods.
Sugar Substitutes Chart: Easily Replace Sugar in Recipes
2. Nut Milk Instead of Dairy Milk
Cow’s milk contains hormones that disrupt your endocrine system; it also impairs the digestive system, builds mucus, and causes inflammation in the body. Therefore, it’s best to avoid it and replace it with plant-based milk like almond, cashew, coconut, rice, oat, hazelnut, etc.
Step By Step Process To Make Homemade Nut Milk
3. Avocado on Bread Instead of Butter
Although there has been a lot of controversy about butter and saturated fat lately, the evidence suggests that they might not be safe for your health. Avocado is a delicious alternative and contains healthy fats that are good for your heart, gut health, and skin.
Healthy 5 Minute Avocado Toast
4. Sparkling Water with Lemon Instead of Soda
On days when plain water is just not appealing, replace sugar-and-chemical-laden soda with sparkling water. Add a squeeze of lime or lemon, and you have a healthy refreshing drink.
5. Coconut Milk Instead of Dairy Cream
If you need to make your soup, curry, or sauce creamy, use full-fat coconut milk instead of traditional cream.
Creamy Coconut Garlic Mushrooms
6. Oven Sweet Potato Fries Instead of Regular Fries
This alternative does not only contain less fat (as it’s not deep fried), but sweet potatoes are also way more nutritious than regular potatoes.
Perfectly Crispy Oven Sweet Potato Fries With Avocado Aioli
7. Dark Chocolate Instead of Candy
Chocolate made with whole milk and lots of sugar is unhealthy and can even be addictive. However, good quality chocolate, which is at least 70% cacao (and loaded with antioxidants, minerals like calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, zinc, and potassium, healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins E, B2, B1, B5, B3, and B9), is great for you!
8. Raw Unsalted Nuts Instead of Salted and Roasted
Roasted nuts become rancid, which means they damage your cells, create inflammation, and make you age faster. Therefore, it’s always best to choose raw nuts. Also make sure that they’re unsalted, since low quality refined salt makes you dehydrated and disrupts the mineral balance in your body.
9. Whole Fruit Instead of Fruit Juice
Fruit juice contains a ton of sugar, which goes straight into the bloodstream, disrupting the blood sugar regulation system, and creates an avalanche of various health problems. Fruit, on the other hand, contains water soluble and insoluble fiber, which slows down the sugar absorption into the bloodstream. Pretty awesome right?
10. Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Instead of Processed Dressings
Store-bought salad dressings usually contain lots of calories, sugar, unhealthy fats, and preservatives. To avoid the health dangers of processed condiments, simply use olive oil with balsamic vinegar and some good quality salt, like Himalayan pink salt. You can also add fresh or dried herbs for extra flavor.
11. Salsa Instead of Cream Based Dips
Creamy dips are extremely high in calories, containing 30 calories per one tablespoon. Salsa is a way healthier and a more slimming option. Even better if you make your own with fresh ingredients.
12. Oatmeal Instead of Sugary Cereal
Oats are an excellent source of manganese, biotin, copper, magnesium and fiber. They are delicious and very versatile.
Tropical Summer Coconut Oatmeal
If you implement these super easy tricks, you won’t feel deprived or have to sacrifice anything. The calories you save will add up, and you’ll start feeling lighter in no time.
Chasing Foxes was started in 2016 as a way for Grace and her husband, Silas, to start traveling. However, they started to realize that they had a passion for improving themselves, and wanted to help others level up their lives as well. So whether it's with cooking, travel, or staying healthy, they want to help you better your life bit by bit, as they do the same.
Nice post and very impressive .
Thank you so much Sam! 🙂