Healthy Food Tips: Food Substitution for Weight Loss

Staying healthy and maintaining a normal weight is all about choosing the right foods. Some foods provide most of their calories from fat and sugar, while others are rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber. You can make simple ingredient substitutions to create healthy recipes that taste and look amazing. By replacing certain ingredients in your meals, you will be able to satisfy your cravings and lose weight at the same time.

Whole Wheat

Complex carbohydrates have many health benefits. You can include whole wheat, one of the best sources of complex carbohydrates, in your favorite desserts to replace the number of calories consumed. If you want to lose weight and improve your digestion, then you should always opt for whole wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, and whole grain crackers. Whole grains are more filling and contain essential nutrients.

High-Fat Dairy Substitutes

Replace whole milk, yogurt and cheese with lower fat versions. Most dairy products are healthy, but contain a large amount of fat. If you want to get rid of excess weight or reduce cholesterol levels, try blending the full-fat and low-fat versions. Ricotta cheese can be successfully replaced with fat free cottage cheese. You can eat low fat frozen yogurt or fat free ice cream instead of regular ice cream. Buy plain low-fat or fat-free yogurt instead of sour cream.

Meats, Fish, and Poultry

Replace ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. This way you can easily eliminate unhealthy fats from your diet. Canadian bacon or lean ham is an excellent alternative to bacon or sausages. Always remove skin from chicken. When you buy beef or pork, choose cold cuts over the fattier version.

Baked Goods

Baked goods should not be part of a weight loss diet. However, if you are craving for pastries, donuts, or sweet rolls, you can replace them with bagels, fat free muffins, and English muffins. Choose fat-free or reduced fat cookies instead of regular cookies. When you prepare baked goods at home, add butter or avocado puree instead of margarine. Avocado puree has a subtle taste and lends itself well to the texture of dark chocolate flavorings and fudge brownies.

Sweets

Loaded with unhealthy refined sugar and simple carbohydrates, candies are one of the worst choices you can make when dieting. These sweets are loaded with calories, but contain no vitamins, minerals, or protein. If you still want to eat something sweet, replace candies with dried fruits like apricots, figs, or dates. These healthy foods are not recommended for a weight loss diet, but at least they contain essential nutrients that can improve your overall health.