For anyone who has started a diet, on a diet, been on a diet, or just trying to eat healthier, there’s nothing harder than saying goodbye to your favorite comfort foods. They’re like good friends- always there when you need them. Unfortunately, unlike a good friend, these unhealthy food friends are sabotaging our waist lines.
Joy Bauer, Yahoo’s resident nutritionist, shows ten foods that most people cringe at the thought of giving up and healthy ways to not cut them loose. She calls them Diet-Friendly Comfort Foods. Here, we show you her recommended replacement foods along side our recommendations.
Pizza
Just two slices at a restaurant can have nearly a full day’s worth of calories. She suggests making your own at home or buying the Lean Cuisine brand, both options for less than 320 calories. We recommend the Weight Watchers Deep Dish Pizza Casserole, with 6 points and 277 calories.
Ice Cream
A pint of the popular Ben & Jerry’s has more than 1,000 calories. Look for lighter options that pack just as much irresistible flavor. She recommends the Turkey Hill Low-Fat brand, we recommend Bob Greene’s favorite Skinny Cow brand.
Chips
Yes, you can still satisfy that crunchy-salty munchy attack without the calories and fat of potato chips. Yahoo’s Joy recommends soy crisps- and that’s exactly what we recommend. Glenny’s Soy Crisps come in 100 calorie packs, dozens of cravable flavors- plus offer protein!
Bread
One of the biggest dieter demons out there- two slices of this carb-packed favorite topped with butter can have upward of 260 calories. Joy recommends light english muffins with peanut butter to save 100 calories. We recommed Bob Greene’s Best Life Flat Out Wraps. They come in nearly 20 flavors, make great sandwiches and many varieties have between 70 and 100 calories.
Taco Bell
This fast-food favorite can cost you nearly a day’s worth of calories for some menu items. Satisfy your craving for spicy Mexican food with these Weight Watchers Baked Chimichangas. They are 6 points, 276 calories and a delicious alternative to greasy fast food.
Burgers
When the grills start blazing this spring, know that your usual bacon cheeseburger isn’t doing you any favors with more than 1,000 calories. Joy recommends a turkey burger with only half a bun for 334 calories. We recommend these hearty Weight Watchers Veggie Burgers with only 2 points and 129 calories.
French Fries
Along side a burger, nothing is better, or worse for you. Skip the 600 calories a large fry offers for Joy’s recommended baked sweet potato fries for 220 calories. We recommend Weight Watchers Roasted Potatoes with Garlic, with only 1 point and 64 calories.
Chicken Wings
Joy says fried chicken wings can have more than 700 calories! She replaces those with baked chicken tenderloins with hot sauce for 120 calories. We recommend Glazed Chicken Bits with only 4 Weight Watchers points.
Pasta
Why is it so darn irresistible? A serving of regular mac ‘n cheese can pack 800 calories or more. Joy recommends a whole wheat elbow noodle with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese for half the calories. We recommend lightening any pasta dish with Barilla Plus whole grain pastas- they’re a part of Bob Greene’s Best Life plan and have Omega-3s.
Cookies
It’s OK to have your hand caught in the cookie jar if you’re not reaching for those pre-made cookie dough squares with 200 calories and 10 grams of fat! Joy says grab South Beach Diet’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies instead for exactly half the fat and calories. We recommend the Nabisco 100 calorie pack cookies.
