This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Ohio U chapter.
Even though swimsuit season is just around the corner, that doesn’t mean crash diets are a last resort! These simple switches are easy to gradually add to your daily eating habits. Follow my tips and soon you’ll be on your way to a healthier body in no time. I promise, you can have your cake, and eat it too!
Skinny up your latté
Sometimes sugar-free syrups can have questionable chemicals and sweeteners in them, so opt for half the amount of syrup in your Café Mocha or latté of choice. Also, choosing nonfat milk and cutting the whipped cream saves you tons of calories and fat. For comparison:
Starbucks™ Regular Grande Café Mocha:
330 calories, 15g fat (9g saturated fat)
Starbucks™ Grande Café Mocha: HCOU version
220 calories, 2.5g fat (1.5g saturated fat)
Look at the labels
Of course, you can’t always go for the fresh and natural foods, this is college we’re talking about, but you can be smart about what packaged foods you eat. First and foremost, scout out the ingredient list. The ingredients are listed in order of amount from highest to lowest; sugar and salt are notorious for making the top five. That being said, also pay attention to the number of weird ingredients that you can’t pronounce, because these can obviously be harsh on your body. Lastly, choose whichever products have the least number of ingredients. You’d be surprised to see all the preservatives in those frozen dinners at the market.
Sacrifice: don’t swear your favorites off!
Let’s face it: us girls can’t get enough of those beloved carb-laden foods, and sometimes we feel really guilty afterwards. But fear not! You just have to pick your battles. Going to the diner with friends? Stick to the juicy burger but swap the fries for a side salad. Chowing down on some Chipotle? Choose beans or rice. On the sweeter side, go for a small sundae instead of a thick, filling milkshake.
Adjust your portion sizes
True, sometimes this one is out of your control depending on which dining hall you go to, but otherwise, this is relatively simple! When we use bigger plates, we have the unconscious need to fill it up. The solution? Choose a smaller plate so you can still indulge in just the right amount of that yummy mac and cheese. Also, keep these common serving sizes in mind: 2 tablespoons= golf ball, 3 oz. meat/chicken/fish= a deck of cards, and 1 cup= your hands cupped together.
Bring a chatty friend along!
This one is kind of obvious, but it’s practical at the same time. When we eat more slowly, we swallow less air, banishing bloating, and we become more aware of how full we are. Have you ever noticed that when you scarf down your lunch in 5 minutes, which sometimes is naturally unavoidable, you feel like it was more of a snack than an actual meal? Catching up with a friend over some lunch or dinner helps to slow you down—in a good way!