There are NO Bad Foods!
Today is my son's birthday. He always requests a special homemade dessert to take to his classmates. He knows I love to bake individual treats whether it's for school or a party I'm having at home. People are often shocked to hear that a dietitian loves to bake and eat desserts...I mean desserts are bad for you so why would you tempt yourself and others like that??? Well I'm here to say that there are NO BAD FOODS! Whether its french fries or cupcakes, you can always incorporate special treats into your daily diet. How?
The key is portion control! Almost every dessert I make is portioned out to be around 250 calories or less. Same with savory treats...instead of a large fries, I order a small (510 calories vs 210 calories; even less if you order the kids size).
Another tip is to bulk up a dessert with fresh fruit. Fruit has fiber which helps you feel fuller faster. Rather than serve a big slice of cheesecake, cut the size in half and serve it with a 1/2 cup or more of fresh berries with a dollop of fat free whipped cream (only 5 calories for 2 TB). Still delicious and you cut your calories by more than half. Better yet, how about sharing that dessert with friends or family? Because we all know that sharing is caring!
For those burger lovers out there, order a smaller pattie size (a quarter pounder rather than a half pound) and ask for extra veggies like tomatoes, lettuce and raw onions...that's ok if there will be no kissing involved afterwards; you're doing this for the greater good :) Shy away from overindulging with the carmelized onions and sauteed mushrooms because they are often cooked in a lot of oil.
Remember the moment you deny yourself a treat, that's when the cravings intensify! So keep these tips in mind to satisfy those cravings and keep your waistline in check.
