Simple Swaps to Cut 500 Calories

By Kimberly Goad and Su Reid-St. John
June 28, 2014
Credit: Jack Miskell
Easy low-calorie healthy foods swaps cut calories for fast weight loss.
Start Slideshow

1 of 6

A healthy trade-off

Credit: Jack Miskell

Our easy switches trim at least 500 calories (some trim even more)—just pick one a day and see what a big difference a few small changes can make.

Get a better buzz
Trade in your 20-ounce morning latte (290 calories) for a cup of black coffee with a splash of half-and-half (22 calories). Then skip the towering 24-ounce afternoon Frappuccino (330 calories), and have a 12-ounce iced coffee with a splash of skim and a couple of Hershey’s Kisses (93 calories) instead.That's 505 calories—gone!

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 6

Pop your own

Credit: Getty Images

A movie’s just not a movie without popcorn! But most large, buttery tubs from the concession stand boast a whopping 1,000-plus calories. Smuggle in your own (air- or microwave-popped, 94% fat-free) and save around 900 calories.

3 of 6

Have your cake and eat it, too

Credit: Jack Miskell

Craving something sweet? Treat yourself to a mini-cupcake instead of a ginormous one, and you can slash around 500 calories.

Advertisement

4 of 6

Tame your tuna melt

Credit: Getty Images

This sandwich staple can clock in at 1,000 calories—ouch! A tuna-and–cream cheese sushi roll will hit the same spot for a lot less damage. We’re talking a savings of more than 600 calories.

5 of 6

Fool yourself slim

Simply trade in your 12-inch dinner plate for a 10-inch one, and you’ll eat up to 22% fewer calories, research suggests. Do that for every meal of the day, and you’ll bank around 500 calories.

6 of 6

Skinnify your pizza pie

Credit: Jack Miskell

Choose a couple of slices of Domino’s thin-crust cheese pizza with veggies instead of two slices of their deep-dish double-cheese pizza with pepperoni, shredded Parmesan, and anchovies to net a 500-plus calorie savings.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Kimberly Goad and Su Reid-St. John