When it comes to dieting, rules can get really frustrating. Everything you crave is everything you can’t eat. But that’s not the way it should be. We’ve found a way you can eat what you want, when you want it. Cheeseburgers, ice cream, and even paninis? Yes, even those. To do that, all you have to do is implement smart food swaps.
To help you lose weight, we compiled 40 simple swaps that slash your calorie intake significantly. If you made all of these in one week (of course, a lofty goal), you would save over 4,960 calories! But even eating just 50 calories less than you normally do every day can help you drop five pounds over the course of a year. So why not start with just one?
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to overhaul your diet to lose weight—just make these smart food swaps. Read on, and for more on how to eat healthy, you won’t want to miss these 30 Cooking Tricks They Only Teach You In Culinary School.
Eat This: French’s Classic Yellow Mustard, 0 calories
Not That!: Hellman’s Mayonnaise, 90 calories
This Swap Saves: 90 calories
When it comes to sandwiches, calories sneak in all too quickly. Next time you stack your lunch, try spreading mustard instead of mayo. Just one tablespoon of mayo can add 90 calories to your ‘wich, but spicy mustard is often zero. No wonder that using the right condiments is one of our best weight loss tips!
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Eat This: 1 slice Dave’s Killer Bread, 21 Whole Grains & Seeds, 120 calories
Not That!: 2 slices Dave’s Killer Bread, 21 Whole Grains & Seeds, 240 calories
This Swap Saves: 120 calories
Sometimes that second piece of bread is just plain unnecessary. By eating your lunch open-faced, you cut 120 calories. And if you take it with a fork and knife, you’ll eat more slowly, allowing your body to tell you when you feel full before you’ve scarfed down the whole thing.
Eat This: 2 Scrambled Eggs with Chives, 170 calories
Not That!: 2 Scrambled Eggs with ¼ cup Sargento Shredded 4 State Cheddar, 266 calories
This Swap Saves: 105 calories
Eggs and cheese do go hand in hand, but they also boost calories like no other. Next time you need more flavor in your scramble, try a lower cal fix like tossing in chopped chives. Hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or even everything bagel seasoning can also do the trick.
Eat This: 12-oz Seltzer with Lemon Slices, 0 calories
Not That!: 12-oz Coke, 140 calories
This Swap Saves: 140 calories
You’ve sat down for dinner and you’re thinking about washing it down with a soda. Do yourself a favor and take a pass. You’ll save more than 100 calories and over 20 grams of sugar by choosing a sugar-free, unflavored fizz such as plain seltzer. If you’d rather not take it plan, opt for tossing in slices of lemon, lime, or even orange.
Eat This: 1 oz Raw Pistachios, 159 calories
Not That!: 1 oz Raw Walnuts, 185 calories
This Swap Saves: 26 calories
While they are the perfect snack to hold your hunger, eating nuts by the handful often means munching on far too many. Instead of continuously dipping into the bag, just switch nuts! For the exact same one-ounce serving size, you’ll save nearly 30 calories by noshing on pistachios instead of walnuts. Plus, shelling the pistachios yourself will help you snack slower and therefore get full faster, saving you precious calories. And did we mention that for the same serving size, you’ll be able to scarf down 49 pistachios but only 14 walnuts? Not sure about you, but we’d rather eat triple the amount and not have to worry about adding extra calories.
Eat This: Grapes, 69 calories (100 grams)
Not That!: Craisins, 325 calories (100 grams)
This Swap Saves: 256 calories
With the simple addition of dried fruit, seemingly healthy trail mixes and salads can become your worst nightmare. Instead of sugar-filled dried cranberries, strive for fresh ingredients that provide natural sweetness and texture. Fibrous vegetables are low-cal and high in nutrient value as opposed to the sort of calorie-filled toppings you buy in bags.
Eat This: 2 Tablespoons Fage 2% Greek, 27.5 calories
Not That!: 2 Tablespoons Daisy Sour Cream, 60 calories
This Swap Saves: 32.5 calories
We get that the tangy, creamy, smooth addition of sour cream is irresistible in certain dishes. But for nearly the same palatable experience, you can save over 30 calories and add waist-cinching probiotics to your meal. Yes, just a “dollop” of our favorite yogurt can help steer you on the right track for your weight loss journey.
Eat This: Cinnamon, 6 calories (1 tsp.)
Not That!: Sugar, 16 calories (1 tsp.)
This Swap Saves: 10 calories
Starting your day with sweetness means your body will be craving it all day long. Instead of loading your coffee with sugar (artificial or not), try sprinkling in blood-glucose-regulating cinnamon. Your morning cup of Joe will now have metabolism-boosting benefits, and you won’t be as likely to reach for that bag of M&Ms later on.
Eat This: Homemade, air-popped popcorn, 139 calories (4.5 cups)
Not That!: Jolly Time Mini Bags Blast O Butter, Ultimate Theatre Style, 210 calories (4.5 cups)
This Swap Saves: 71 calories
Ah, popcorn. The high-fiber snack can be kept low-cal, but only if you prepare it correctly. Ditch the butter, ditch the bags, and invest in an air popper. By air popping your whole-grain kernels, you’ll consume fewer calories than most healthy snacks for weight loss. Boost your movie night snack’s flavor by sprinkling in red pepper flakes, cinnamon, cocoa powder, or a dash of classic salt and pepper!
Eat This: ½ Cup Halo Top Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, 90 calories
Not That!: ½ Cup Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, 280 calories
This Swap Saves: 190 calories
Treating yourself every once in a while is totally understandable. But who are you kidding when you say you’re going to stick to just a half-cup serving? Next time you hit the freezer aisles, choose a healthier option such as one of our 14 best brand name ice creams for weight loss. Picking Halo Top in the same indulgent flavor will save you almost 200 calories in addition to 8 grams of heart-harming saturated fat and 18 grams of sugar.
Eat This: Olive Oil Spray, 5 calories
Not That!: Tablespoon of Olive Oil, 120
This Swap Saves: 115 calories
Next time you make a panini, egg dish, or burger, consider using pan spray as opposed to oil or butter. Using “just a little” bit of regular olive oil in the pan can add 120 calories. By spritzing, the oil is well spread out, requiring you to use way less.
Eat This: 2 Mission Super Soft White Corn Tortillas, 100 calories
Not That!: 2 Mission Soft Taco Flour Tortillas, 280 calories
This Swap Saves: 180 calories
Beyond the refried beans, an extra helping of cheese, and loads of guac you’re likely stuffing into your taco shell, you’re probably forgetting to consider the tortilla you’re wrapping all those fixings with. Before inviting everyone over for Taco Tuesday, make sure to stock up on corn tortillas. They’re gluten-free, pack in 3 grams of belly-filling fiber, and contain less than 2 grams of fat.
Eat This: ½ Cup Kellogg’s All-Bran Original, 80 calories
Not That!: ½ Cup Kellogg’s Special K Granola Touch of Honey, 200 calories
This Swap Saves: 120 calories
Greek yogurt parfaits are a satisfying and balanced breakfast, but they can also be a sugar and calorie-filled trap. Instead of using sweetened granola, try a plain, high-fiber cereal, and then add some cinnamon and berries to enhance your bowl’s flavor. This simple swap can save you at least 100 calories and will help curb hunger so you won’t dive into your office snack drawer.
Eat This: 1 oz Mont Chevre Original Crumbled Goat Cheese, 70 calories
Not That!: 1 oz President Triple Crème Brie, 100 calories
This Swap Saves: 30 calories
When it comes to saying cheese, ask for goat. Creamy, tangy, and low-calorie (for cheese, anyway), you can indulge in this spreadable treat when you’re watching your weight.
Eat This: 2 Slices of Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread with 1 oz of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 230 calories
Not That!: Cinnabon Classic Roll, 880 calories
This Swap Saves: 650 calories
When you’re trying to beat winter blues and cozy up to something comforting, try Ezekiel’s cinnamon raisin toast as opposed to traditional cinnamon rolls. And then add some cream cheese to make up for your icing to save an abominable 650 calories.
Eat This: 2 boiled eggs, 160 calories
Not That!: 2 eggs scrambled with 1 tbsp. butter, 260 calories
This Swap Saves: 100 calories
Yes, as we’ve already noted, fluffy scrambled eggs and gooey cheese-filled omelets can be totally delicious, but do you know how many hidden calories are folded right into those breakfasts? Generally, recipes call for approximately 1 tablespoon of butter per egg or two—that’s 100 calories added to your plate. Instead, try boiling them: cracked or not, hard-boiled, soft-boiled, or even poached provide you with a menu of delicious, low-cal alternatives that are still packed with protein and waist-slimming choline.
Eat This: 1 cup of Zoodles, 19 calories
Not That!: 1 cup of cooked Spaghetti, 200 calories
This Swap Saves: 181 calories
Instead of ordering carb-filled pasta for dinner, check the menu for veggie noodles. From spaghetti squash to zucchini noodles or even sweet potato spirals, these veggie alternatives squash calories out the door. A cup of zoodles contains 25 calories; spaghetti can contain about 200!
Eat This: Grande Iced Coffee with 2% Milk, Unsweetened, 35 calories
Not That!: Grande Iced Vanilla Latte with 2% Milk, 195 calories
This Swap Saves: 160 calories
We know you’ve heard this before, and we totally get that your morning brew is 100% necessary. But all that cream and sugar? No thank you. The typical combinations are loaded with fat and calories. Try ordering your coffee black and splashing in the milk yourself to further control the calories you sip. Not only will your body thank you, but your wallet will too. You’d be surprised at how much you’ll save by ordering a plain cup of coffee compared to your go-to gourmet version.
Eat This: 1 lettuce leaf, 4 calories
Not That!: Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns, 130 calorie
This Swap Saves: 126 calories
That juicy burger topped with cheese and tomato is much better off without the starchy bun. Eliminate nearly 130 calories and feel just as full thanks to the protein-packed meat. When you’re ordering out, ask for your burger “protein-style” or in a “lettuce wrap.” You’d be surprised how popular this is, even Shake Shack and In-And-Out list this popular option on their menu!
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Eat This: ½ Cup Newman’s Own Garden Peppers Pasta Sauce, 60 calories
Not That!: ½ Cup Newman’s Own Alfredo Pasta Sauce, 80 calories
This Swap Saves: 20 calories
No, we’re not talking about wine. When it comes to sauces, stick to red. White sauces tend to be loaded with cream, butter, cheese, and inflammatory oils. Reds, on the other hand, are filled with vegetables, and often have fewer calories and sugar compared to their white competitors.
Eat This: 1 packet of Grimmway Farms Baby Carrots Snack Packs, 35 calories
Not That!: 1 oz Tostitos Original Restaurant Style Chips, 140 calories
This Swap Saves: 105 calories
Craving crunchy chips and dip? Skip the fried tortillas and cut up some vegetables instead to load up on fiber and slow down your consumption. Low in calories, and just as crunchy—sliced bell peppers, celery sticks, and sweet baby carrots are sure to do the trick.
Eat This: Bolthouse Farms Chunky Blue Cheese Yogurt Dressing, 35 calories
Not That!: Hidden Valley Original Ranch, 140 calories
This Swap Saves: 105 calories
Dressing is a dietary trap. Without even knowing it you can be adding almost 150 calories to your salad, which was supposed to be your healthy low-cal meal. Try Bolthouse Farms’ yogurt dressing or balsamic vinegar instead. If the latter is too tart, add a little olive oil to tone it down. Remember that 1 tablespoon of olive oil is 120 calories, so use that sparingly.
Eat This: 1.5 piece (117 g) Bell & Evans Time Savers Grilled Chicken Breasts, 150 calories
Not That!: 4 oz. (112 g) Bell & Evans Breaded Chicken Tenders, 210 calories
This Swap Saves: 60 calories
When you can’t figure out what to whip up for dinner, it’s helpful to know which buzzwords to look for—and which ones to avoid. Say no to anything labeled “creamy,” “breaded,” “stuffed,” or “crispy.” Instead, try anything broiled, grilled, poached, and baked. You can transform almost all of your favorite comfort foods into healthier alternatives by switching up the way you cook your food.
Eat This: Domino’s Small Crunchy Thin Crust, 490 calories
Not That!: Domino’s Small Hand-Tossed Crust, 820 calories
This Swap Saves: 330 calories
Most pies are made with refined white flours, loaded with calories, and known to boost your cravings throughout the day thanks to their gut-busting amounts of salt. If you do cave into your pizza cravings, choosing a thin crust can go a long way. Domino’s small thin crust packs in 490 calories just for the bready foundation. The hand-tossed crust is almost double that. One word: Yikes!
Eat This: Chobani Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt, 80 calories
Not That!: Dannon Lowfat Vanilla Yogurt, 140 calories
This Swap Saves: 60 calories
Our favorite breakfast can quickly start to resemble our favorite dessert, ice cream. Make sure you choose a Greek yogurt that’s low in sugar and high in protein. This simple swap saves you 60 calories and gives you room to add toppings (we love fresh fruit and low-sugar granola) without the guilt. Find out our other cultured cravings in our list of the 25 Best Yogurts for Weight Loss.
Eat This: Quaker Instant Organic Oatmeal Original, 100 calories
Not That!: Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal Summer Berry, 250 calories
This Swap Saves: 150 calories
Oatmeal is a solid choice to start your day with, but not when you’re spooning starch that’s loaded with sugar. Go for plain oats that list just one ingredient: whole grain rolled oats. Add your own toppings such as fresh berries, crunchy chia seeds, and slivered almonds to round out the meal with flavor and texture without relying on the belly-ballooning sweet stuff.
Eat This: So Delicious Unsweetened Organic Almond Milk with Cashew, 35 calories
Not That!: Silk Vanilla Almond Milk, 80 calories
This Swap Saves: 45 calories
Drench your fiber-rich flakes with So Delicious’ nut milk instead of Silk’s sweetened almond milk and cut 45 calories and—get this—13 grams of sugar! That’s more than half your day’s worth of added sugars saved by this effortless swap.
Eat This: BeachBar Chocolate Cherry, 150 calories
Not That!: PowerBar Peanut Butter, 230 calories
This Swap Saves: 80 calories
When you’re looking to refuel on the fly, nothing’s worse than biting into a caloric post-workout snack and undoing all those floors you climbed on the Stairmaster. Satisfy your cocoa cravings and satiate a rumbling tummy with 10 grams of metabolism-igniting protein for only 150 calories. Plus, you’ll save a shocking 20 grams of sugar by making this mindless switch.
Eat This: PB2, 50 calories
Not That!: Jif Creamy Peanut Butter, 190 calories
This Swap Saves: 145 calories
In the mood to slather some apple slices with peanut butter? Rather than fretting the nearly 200-calorie per two-tablespoon serving, try stirring some PB2 peanut powder. The powder achieves its slimming nutrition panel by roasting and pressing the peanuts to remove 85 percent of the fat and calories. While the powder is definitely a healthy and less-caloric alternative to traditional peanut butter, PB’s saturated unsaturated fats can also help you lose weight—as long as you use the creamy spread sparingly.
Eat This: Merlot, 122 calories
Not That!: Margarita, 310 calories
This Swap Saves: 188 calories
Applebee’s Perfect Margarita is the farthest thing from ideal for weight loss. Hit up the restaurant chain for just two margs and you’ll ingest over 600 calories! If you opt for a glass of merlot, not only will the choice help you cinch your waistline by saving calories, but you’ll also benefit from the vino’s many benefits including longevity, reduced risk of heart disease, and even protection against tooth decay.
Eat This: True Made Foods Vegetable Ketchup, 10 calories
Not That!: Heinz Ketchup, 20 calories
This Swap Saves: 10 calories
We know what you’re thinking—how will just 10 calories help you lose weight? When it comes to shedding the spare tire for good, every calorie counts. And in the case of ketchup, we’re usually squirting way more than the suggested one-tablespoon serving size. And get this: While Heinz’s classic tub is packed with high fructose corn syrup, True Made Foods’ jar opts for sweetening its ketchup with butternut squash and carrots.
Eat This: Mustard, 0 calories
Not That!: Kraft Hickory Smoke Barbecue Sauce, 50 calories
This Swap Saves: 50 calories
“Sugar is added to condiments, such as barbecue sauce, to help give it that sweet taste we all enjoy, but it also acts as a preservative,” Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of Belly Fat Diet for Dummies, and Hass Avocado Goodness expert tells us in 12 Hidden Sources of Sugar at Your Barbecue (And How to Avoid Them). Mustard has virtually no calories and can add a boatload of flavor to your summer cookouts.
Eat This: Simply Light Orange, 50 calories
Not That!: Tropicana Pure Premium Original, 110 calories
This Swap Saves: 60 calories
Whether you’re pouring a glass of juice to go along with your omelet or stirring up a screwdriver, choosing the light orange juice is your best bet. Simply Light’s pulp-free orange juice packs in a lowly 50 calories per cup, slimming down everything from breakfast to nightcaps.
Eat This: Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna In Water, 50 calories
Not That!: Bumble Bee Chunk White Albacore In Oil, 80 calories
This Swap Saves: 30 calories
Instead of choosing to take your tuna marinated in oil, go for a can that preserves the heart-healthy fish in water. You’ll slash 30 calories per serving as well as vegetable oil, which has been linked to metabolic diseases. One study in the British Medical Journal found that consuming too much vegetable oil may even increase your risk of heart disease.
Eat This: Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast, 120 calories (100 grams)
Not That!: Chicken Drumstick with Skin, 161 calories
This Swap Saves: 41 calories
Want more protein and less fat on your dinner plate? A 3.5-ounce portion of skinless chicken breast packs in 22.5 grams of protein and less than 3 grams of fat, while the dark meat in a drumstick contains 161 calories and over 9 grams of fat!
Eat This: Veestro Portobello Steak Dinner, 270 calories
Not That!: Marie Callender’s Chicken & Bacon Pot Pie, 510 calories
This Swap Saves: 240 calories
Marie Callender’s meaty pot pie serves up sketchy ingredients such as nitrites, caramel color, and interesterified soybean oil. If you’re short on time and need dinner on the table in a jiffy, opt for one of Veestro’s beyond delicious plant-based meals. The Portobello Steak Dinner boasts a hearty texture that will crush your rib-eye cravings without tipping the scale in the wrong direction.
Eat This: La Colombe Pure Black Cold Brew, 5 calories
Not That!: Gold Peak Salted Caramel Cold Brew Coffee, 270 calories
This Swap Saves: 265 calories
We know you need your a.m. jolt, so we’re advising you to pick up the low-sugar bottle at the bodega. Gold Peak’s salted caramel blend sounds like liquid dessert and it’s got the sugar count to justify it (53 grams per bottle—yikes!). If you’re looking to trim the love handles, a pure black blend with no added sugars, like La Colombe’s, is a better choice.
Eat This: Nonni’s Chocolate Chip Artisan Thin Cookies, Double Chocolate, 90 calories
Not That!: Mrs. Fields Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookies, 140 calories
This Swap Saves: 50 calories
Instead of dunking Mrs. Fields into a glass of milk, shave 50 calories off your post-dinner dessert with Nonni’s portioned cookie thins. They’re crunchy, satisfying, and are baked with real ingredients including coconut oil and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.
Eat This: Organic Riced Cauliflower, 30 calories (¾ cup)
Not That!: Jasmine Rice, 160 calories (¼ cup dry)
This Swap Saves: 130 calories
It’s a ubiquitous trend for a reason: Ricing the fiber-filled veggie instead of boiling a pot of regular rice can help you shave calories off your lunch and nourish your body with vitamin C, potassium, and even plant-based protein. Plus, riced cauliflower’s texture is so similar to the grain that you’ll barely notice the difference. Feel free to coat the veggie with a lycopene-rich red sauce and a sprinkle of cheese for an unbelievably guilt-free meal.
Eat This: Tall, Skim Vanilla Latte, 150 calories
Not That!: Venti, Skim Vanilla Latte, 250 calories
This Swap Saves: 100 calories
When you’re at Starbucks, there’s no better way to slim down your java order than simply opting for a shorter cup. Even if you sip a milky-flavored latte, choosing the Tall over the Venti will save 100 calories from your day’s budget. Want to slash the calories even further? Go for the Short cup—you’ll save another 50 calories and get the same amount of productivity-inducing caffeine.
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