8. Just Say No at the Movies
Gobbling up
obscene amounts of fat and calories has become a sad tradition in movie
theaters. When you go to a movie, your best bet is to skip those snacks
entirely. Except for an occasional soft pretzel, there are virtually
zero healthy options at a theater—and most are ridiculously unhealthy
and massively fattening. Smuggle in something healthy like dried fruit,
baked chips, or veggie sticks, or choose to find satisfaction with two
hours of entertainment.
9. Ditto for Ballparks
Never plan
to eat a meal at a sporting event. Ballparks are synonymous with garbage
food, and it’s a bad idea to be stuck there starving while surrounded
by lukewarm pizzas, hot dogs, and nachos. Instead, eat a healthy meal
before you go. If you must have a snack, stick to a soft pretzel or a
sorbet.
10. Avoid French Fries
A 130-pound
woman would have to run 3 miles at 6 miles per hour in order to burn off
the calories in a medium order of McDonald’s French fries. Note we said
“medium,” not an order of large fries. Wouldn’t it be easier to skip
the French fries altogether? You can easily consume lots of calories;
burning off lots of calories is hard work!
11. Say No to White Sauce
Traditional
Alfredo is the worst of all sauces. It’s the perfect combination of
butter, cream, and cheese, which leads to a caloric and fat count
nightmare. If flat abs are on your to-do list, do not order this at a
restaurant. Marinara will always be a better bet!
12. Avoid Thick-Crust Pizza
Pizza has
the potential to be really good or really bad for you. The power is in
your hands. When making or ordering pizza, make sure you always choose
the thinnest crust possible while piling on lean meats and fresh or
grilled produce. To maximize nutrition and minimize fat, ask them to
merely sprinkle cheese on top (rather than slathering on two handfuls of
cheese).
13. Don’t Go Overboard on Vacations
Vacations
are designed for people to get away from the daily grind, see something
new, and have some fun. They are not designed for people to blow their
healthy habits and gain ten pounds as quickly as possible. Always
include exercise as part of your day wherever you are and stick with
healthy eating habits.
14. Trade Traditional Pasta for Spaghetti Squash
Almost
everyone loves pasta! But, unfortunately, traditional pasta has a heavy
caloric pricetag. The good news for all you spaghetti lovers out there
is that spaghetti squash is the perfect substitution for pasta. It has a
mild flavor, tastes great with tomato sauce, and twirls like spaghetti!
This versatile squash can be baked, boiled, microwaved, or cooked in a
Crock Pot! One cup of spaghetti squash contains only 42 calories and 0.4
grams of fat. Its benefits include 2.2 grams of fiber per cup in
addition to a bounty of nutrients like vitamin A, folic acid, and
potassium.
15. Don’t Shop When Hungry
Grocery
shopping when hungry frequently leads to impulse purchases that contain
more fat and calories than you would choose if you shopped when
satiated. One of the best ways to boost your metabolism is to plan meals
ahead of time, create a shopping list, and adhere to the list when you
shop. This way, you’re far more likely to make healthier food choices.
