7 Simple Ways to Save 700 Calories

Healthy Living

 

Here are a few tips to cut on those calories specially for the Christmas season...choose what you eat as you celebrate!

7 Simple Ways to Save 700 Calories

7. #7: BURGER SWAP:

Eat This, Not That! Savings: 730 calories

While these are both double-patty burgers with cheese, Sonic’s version weighs in nearly twice as heavy. That might sound like a bargain until you realize that it contains far more than twice as many calories. The Big Mac relies on thinner cuts of beef and uses far less sauce, making it a reasonable way to fill your double-burger craving.

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McDonald’s Big Mac

540 calories, 29 g fat (10 g saturated), 1,040 mg sodium

6. #6: ASIAN SWAP:

Eat This, Not That! Savings: 705 calories

P.F. Chang's lets the sodium-saturated sauces rain down upon most of its dishes. This is one of the worst. It contains more than two days’ worth of the salty stuff—not to mention eight times the fat of Panda Express' version.

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Panda Express Broccoli Beef (with a side of mixed veggies)

165 calories, 4.5 g fat (1 g saturated), 970 mg sodium

5. #5: SALAD SWAP:

Eat This, Not That! Savings: 723 calories

California Pizza Kitchen's salad menu is, for the most part, a dangerous spot, but the Chinese Chicken option steers clear of trouble with a nutrient-rich blend of cabbage, lettuce, carrots, scallions, and cilantro. Topped with grilled chicken, this veggie-heavy meal is far superior to Applebee’s version. The “Neighborhood Bar & Grill” tosses its lettuce with crispy noodles—read: dipped in fattening oil—that not only add in a deadly level of trans fats, but also deliver an extra 20 grams of carbohydrates. Just watch your sodium intake the rest of the day. CPK has never met a salt shaker it didn't vigorously shake.

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California Pizza Kitchen Chinese Chicken Salad

617 calories, 1 g saturated fat, 2,532 mg sodium,

4. #4: SEAFOOD SWAP:

Eat This, Not That! Savings: 810 calories

It's tough to tell exactly where The Cheesecake Factory’s extra calories come from. The chain doesn't provide ingredient lists. But this selection probably suffers from the same problems as the rest of the menu: excessive use of cheap oils and butter. Olive Garden bakes its crusted tilapia and plates the fish with vegetables, shaving nearly two days’ worth of saturated fat off the Factory’s numbers.

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Olive Garden Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

590 calories, 10 g saturated fat, 910 mg

3. #3: APPETIZER DIP SWAP:

Eat This, Not That! Savings: 1,180 calories

Few appetizers work as hard as guacamole. The avocados from which it's made are packed with hunger-blunting fiber and heart-healthy fats. Chili's Spinach & Artichoke dip, on the other hand, consists of mostly cream, cheese, and butter. Don't let the name fool you into thinking it's healthy.

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On the Border Guacamole with Chips

660 calories, 23 g fat (5 g saturated), 680 mg sodium, 

2. #2: PIZZA SWAP:

Eat This, Not That! Savings: 1,220 calories

It’s not like Pizza Hut’s Personal Pan Pizzas are to be idolized, but compared to Uno’s deep-dish offerings, they're paragons of nutrition. The big difference is in the depth of the crust. Pizza Hut's is reasonable, whereas Uno's can double as a mattress.

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Pizza Hut Pepperoni Personal Pan Pizza

610 calories, 26 g fat (10 g saturated), 1,410 mg sodium, 

1. #1: TACO SWAP:

Eat This, Not That! Savings: 850 calories

It’s not hard to see the difference in these two Mexican dishes. Chipotle combines grilled chicken, fresh salsa, and a little cheese inside a corn shell. Simple. Chili’s, on the other hand, fries its chicken, doubles up on cheese, tosses in some bacon, and drizzles thick ranch dressing on top. That doesn't do your body any favors.

Thanks for reading!