Bite This, Not That

Sound Swaps

Do the shorter days and cold weather make you crave 'comfort' food? You know all those dishes that taste great but aren't always good for you. When outside-exercise is 'iffy' and holiday meals and parties are just around the corner, the last thing you want to do is load up on high calorie dishes. With a few simple ingredient changes you can get through the winter without your scales groaning every time you step on. Here are a few sound swaps that cut the fat and calories, increase the nutrients and still let you enjoy your favorite 'comfort' foods.

Chili or Chili Spaghetti

Bite this: Not that: You end up with:
Ground turkey breast or soy crumbles Ground beef Less calories, saturated fat & cholesterol
Brown rice or whole wheat pasta Spaghetti More fiber, vitamins & minerals
Low fat Mexican-blend cheese Cheddar cheese More flavor, less calories & fat
Fat free plain yogurt Sour cream Less calories, fat & saturated fat


Pasta Dishes

Bite this: Not that: You end up with:
Whole-wheat pasta Processed, white pasta More fiber, vitamins & minerals
Marinara or pesto sauce Alfredo or cream sauce Less calories, saturated fat & cholesterol
Low fat mozzarella, 1/2 the recommended amount of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese Extra mozzarella, Parmesan or Romano cheese Less calories, fat & cholesterol
Turkey Italian sausage, ground turkey breast, ground buffalo Italian sausage, ground beef Less calories, fat & cholesterol


Pizza:

Bite this: Not that: You end up with:
Thin, whole-wheat crust Thick or 'stuffed' white flour crust Less calories; more fiber
Canadian bacon, chicken, veggies Pepperoni, sausage, bacon Less calories, fat & cholesterol; more fiber, vitamins & minerals
Combine hard (parmesan) & low fat (mozzarella, feta, or goat) cheese Extra cheese Less calories, fat & cholesterol; more flavor


A few more swaps to consider when making your favorite dishes or party treats:

Bite this: Not that: You end up with:
Beans or soy Meat and poultry More fiber, vitamins & minerals; less calories, fat, saturated fat & cholesterol
Egg substitute (or egg whites) Whole eggs Less calories, fat & cholesterol
Skim or 1% milk Whole or 2% milk Less calories, fat & cholesterol
Hummus Vegetable dip or ranch dressing More protein, fiber, vitamins & minerals; less calories, fat & cholesterol
Peanut butter Fruit dip Less saturated fat & cholesterol; more heart-healthy fat, protein, vitamins & minerals


Current Bite This, Not That
Bite this, not that to reduce (or reduce your risk of developing) brain cancer

Archived Bite This, Not That
Bite this, Not that for better Men's Health
Read it, don't eat it!
Reducing High Blood Pressure
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Simply Red! Bite this for better heart health!
Foods High in Palmitic Acid
Holiday Salad
Sound Swaps
For Prostate Cancer Prevention
Packing Kid's Lunch
Combining Foods
Summer Salads
Bite this ... when cooking on the grill
Better Blood Pressure
Snacks
Salad Sense
Valentine's Day Chocolate
Football Party Snacks
Hot Cereals
In Your Face!
Beating Breast Cancer
Fiber-Fortified Foods
High Protein, Post Workout Snacks
Drink This, Not That
Summer Barbeque
What's better to buy and eat; berries or grapes?
What's Lunch Got to Do With It?
There's a new grain in town, and it ain't brown rice!
In a hurry? Grab a bagel and low fat cream cheese for breakfast... it's healthy, right?
Fresh vs. Canned or Frozen