Low calorie food choices you made that you carried on even whilst not losing weight?

David_2015
David_2015 Posts: 231 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all

Sorry about the confusing title...! I was thinking earlier about the low calorie food choices/swaps I had made at some point years ago whilst I was losing weight that I carried on when I wasn't attempting to lose weight (I'm what you would call a yo-yo-er!), such as:

Always have wholemeal bread
Always have the green milk
Always have the light versions of Mayo (40 cals vs 100 per 15g!)
Always have porridge for breakkie instead of sugary cereals
Always have light yoghurts

What are yours?
«1

Replies

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Maybe light mayo in tuna since it's not really there for flavor, anyway, imo.

    0% fat Greek yogurt with protein powder is worth keeping.

    Can't think of anything else.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    I'm just in the process of transitioning to maintenance, so I can't really speak for what I'll do in the long term. But some habits I've formed that I see no reason not to continue with are:

    Always have good quality chocolate instead of cheap candy bars.
    Always have good quality cheese instead of the gross plastic stuff.
    Always have good craft beer instead of cheap commercial crap.
    Always have fresh bakery bread instead of packaged supermarket stuff.
    Always splurge on good restaurant food instead of generic chain or fast food.
    Etc.

    Basically, I've turned into a food snob. I believe in maximizing the flavour and enjoyment from every calorie. I like my food a lot better now, so I don't really see any reason to go back to eating crappy stuff.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Unsweetened iced tea.....I'm a lifer

    1% vs. 2% milk

    Greek vs. regular yogurt....the texture is so good
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,255 Member
    What the heck is green milk?
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    Can't think of any... I eat the same stuff I've always ate just in moderation.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    What the heck is green milk?
    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=green+milk
  • David_2015
    David_2015 Posts: 231 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    What the heck is green milk?

    Or semi-skimmed milk.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,744 Member
    Off topic, but just wanted to say I like that you used the word "whilst" in your title due to rant thread about this recently. Good for you. Doesn't bother me a bit. Carry on.
  • naturesfempower
    naturesfempower Posts: 107 Member
    Beans for breakfast.
  • Dnarules
    Dnarules Posts: 2,081 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Unsweetened iced tea.....I'm a lifer

    1% vs. 2% milk

    Greek vs. regular yogurt....the texture is so good

    I'm right there with you on the unsweetened iced tea (with lemon :)). My family laughs at me because I always have a large glass with me!

  • bbandme
    bbandme Posts: 90 Member
    Stevia in my coffee instead of sugar, decaff coffee, lindt chocolate with caramel and sea salt rather than Cadbury.
  • bbandme
    bbandme Posts: 90 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    What the heck is green milk?

    Here in the UK semi-skimmed has green lids on the bottles, skimmed has red, full fat has blue :smile:
  • David_2015
    David_2015 Posts: 231 Member
    BZAH10 wrote: »
    Off topic, but just wanted to say I like that you used the word "whilst" in your title due to rant thread about this recently. Good for you. Doesn't bother me a bit. Carry on.

    Haha! Didn't even realise.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    David_2015 wrote: »
    BZAH10 wrote: »
    Off topic, but just wanted to say I like that you used the word "whilst" in your title due to rant thread about this recently. Good for you. Doesn't bother me a bit. Carry on.

    Haha! Didn't even realise.
    It doesn't matter. "Journey" is the most overused word here, anyway.

  • Clarewho
    Clarewho Posts: 494 Member
    @segacs I couldn't have put it better myself - spot on
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    *kitten* loads of vegetables.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Less oil in my oil/vinegar dressing mix.

    Increased portions of veggies.

    Lots of fish.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    bbandme wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    What the heck is green milk?

    Here in the UK semi-skimmed has green lids on the bottles, skimmed has red, full fat has blue :smile:

    Ahh, the cultural differences. I can't swear it's true nationwide or across chains, but in my U.S. grocery blue lids = skimmed/nonfat, and red = full fat, purple= 2%, and I think 1% is usually green or yellow.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    Oh, and on topic:
    I think mine are all "adds" rather than substitutions (although I suppose they must be substituting for something, since I'm eating fewer calories, not more -- maybe they're substitutions for pasta. I used to eat a lot more pasta.)

    more nuts
    more chocolate
    more peanut butter
    more avocados
    more protein smoothies
    more eggs
    more fish (well, I guess that could count as a more traditional substitution, since it's likely replacing some other protein in my diet)
  • cuckoo_jenibeth
    cuckoo_jenibeth Posts: 1,434 Member
    Greek yogurt
    Dark chocolate
    Grilled veggies galore!
  • Zedeff
    Zedeff Posts: 651 Member
    edited June 2015
    I'm not in maintenance but I know a few of these already:

    Coffee/tea with milk, not cream and sugar
    In-store-baked hamburger (sandwich/hotdog) buns: 130 calories versus 250 for national brands!
    Salad - I can eat a quart of salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumber for <100 calories. And on that note:
    Specific salad dressings. Braswell's Peach Vanilla dressing comes to mind. 30 calories in a serving.
    Ice cream. A half cup of Open Nature Vanilla Bean ice cream (that's 2 standard scoops) has 160 calories. A small DQ Blizzard is more like 450!
    Prepackaged indian curries - too much work to make myself, but they're high in fibre and super tasty for ~160 calories per 1/2 cup portion, nice as a side to grilled meats.
    Happy Planet tomato soup or chicken soup - 70-80 calories per cup.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    I'm just in the process of transitioning to maintenance, so I can't really speak for what I'll do in the long term. But some habits I've formed that I see no reason not to continue with are:

    Always have good quality chocolate instead of cheap candy bars.
    Always have good quality cheese instead of the gross plastic stuff.
    Always have good craft beer instead of cheap commercial crap.
    Always have fresh bakery bread instead of packaged supermarket stuff.
    Always splurge on good restaurant food instead of generic chain or fast food.
    Etc.

    Basically, I've turned into a food snob. I believe in maximizing the flavour and enjoyment from every calorie. I like my food a lot better now, so I don't really see any reason to go back to eating crappy stuff.

    tumblr_lfjhdovKUn1qcu4mno1_400.jpg


  • debubbie
    debubbie Posts: 767 Member
    Greek yogurt instead of mayo in tuna or chicken salad.
    English whole grain muffins instead of hamburger buns for hamburgers (saves about 30 calories, but more importantly the meat fits the bun!)
    Greek yogurt versus regular yogurt.
    Dark chocolate versus milk chocolate or candy bars.
    Using spices to jazz up food instead of calorie dense toppings.
    Sometimes using salsa and guacamole as a salad dressing.
    Making my own grab and go breakfast sandwiches instead of one from McDonald's (Pinterest has several recipes).
    Grilled or sauteed veggies.
  • martim3
    martim3 Posts: 18 Member
    David_2015 wrote: »
    Hi all

    Sorry about the confusing title...! I was thinking earlier about the low calorie food choices/swaps I had made at some point years ago whilst I was losing weight that I carried on when I wasn't attempting to lose weight (I'm what you would call a yo-yo-er!), such as:

    Always have wholemeal bread
    Always have the green milk
    Always have the light versions of Mayo (40 cals vs 100 per 15g!)
    Always have porridge for breakkie instead of sugary cereals
    Always have light yoghurts

    What are yours?

  • martim3
    martim3 Posts: 18 Member
    Always sit down for your meal and enjoy it. Relaxing regularly helps you eat better as well.
  • nooie19
    nooie19 Posts: 153 Member
    Kicked the soda habit years ago. I drink unsweetened iced tea, coffee with no sugar, hit green tea.
  • Bshmerlie
    Bshmerlie Posts: 1,026 Member
    Always prepare my lunch the night before so I can take it to work with me.

    Always have fruit around for snacks when I get hungry so I don't stop at a fast food joint to get something.

    Keeping popcorn and sodas out of the house.

    Always have protein shakes in the fridge for eazy grab and go breakfast.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    Oh, that reminds me: Air popper instead of oil popping on the stove.
  • wanttobefit300
    wanttobefit300 Posts: 157 Member
    Fruit for dessert.
    Yasso frozen Greek yogurt bars in chocolate, strawberry, blueberry, mango, raspberry.
    Dark chocolate.
    Water.
  • Spreyton22K
    Spreyton22K Posts: 323 Member
    Skim milk in coffee. Stopped having sugar in it as well.
    Have introduced herbal teas and also hot/cold lemon waters.
    Started making our homemade greek yogurt to enjoy rather than icecream everyday. Still have icecream but go for artisan/higher quality ones.
    Dry roasting veggies with a spray of oil, rather than shallow fry.
    Have much more fruit as desserts - Winter tend to do a lot of baked stuffed apples and pears, with sultanas, drizzle of honey and yogurt.
    Having more lower calorie vegetarian meals.

    I guess overall I too have become much more careful and discerning about what I want to 'spend' my calorie allotment on - so as someone else mentioned I guess I feel that I too have become a bit of a food snob. I also think that 'dieting' can be a great time to expand your cooking skills and knowledge - embrace different ways of eating and cooking using new meats, vegetables and styles of prep.

This discussion has been closed.

Categories