Healthy substitutions

There are many small and simple things we can do to reduce calories and make healthier decisions in our daily routine. If reducing calories isn’t your particular goal at this point in time, take the principles of healthy substitutions and try to apply them in your life!

For breakfast, try substituting a traditional high-fat egg and bacon breakfast to a vitamin and fiber-rich breakfast of a small serving of oatmeal and a banana three times a week for one year. Making this change would save 59,280 calories or about 17 pounds over a year’s time!

For lunch, instead of eating two pieces of pepperoni pizza, try substituting one of the pieces with a side salad. If you make this change three times a week for one year, you will save 12,480 calories or about 3.5 pounds.

For a snack, instead of reaching for that bag of potato chips, try eating a cup of strawberries. If this is done four times a week for the next year, you will eat 52,000 calories less and avoid putting on 14 pounds. Fruit is sweet and delicious and makes a very healthy and satisfying snack.

For dinner, try eating a smaller serving of spaghetti with broccoli instead of a large serving of spaghetti with garlic bread. Making simple changes at dinner like this three times a week for one year results in 49,920 calories or 14 pounds saved.

All of the ideas in this blog post are intended to get you thinking about the small and truly simple things you and your family can change in your eating that can have huge impacts over time. Feel free to have that big yummy dinner once in a while, and to enjoy a delicious ice cream for dessert on special occasions. All foods are for our benefit and when eaten in moderation, can enhance our earthly experience. No food is truly “bad” or “good” but with the right tools and education, we can make choices to help us reach our potential.

Have a great week!