8 Healthy Food Swaps To Help You Slim Down Fast

Written by Shivani K  • 

What first comes to our minds when we think of losing weight? That we need to burn those calories, right? In order to lose some weight, you need to be burning more calories than you consume, and this inevitably means just one thing — portion control. And mind you, portion control doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to fast your way to weight loss or religiously follow a diet. Portion control simply means that you need to watch your calorie intake.

According to popular belief, healthy food swaps is the smartest way to begin your journey towards achieving a slimmer, healthier you. Making the right changes in your everyday consumption of food without having to compromise on taste should be enough, in fact more than enough, to help you shed that flab around your waistline. Don’t stay away from fats. They are actually important for our body too. Just make sure that you are indulging in the right kinds of fat. Here’s a list of a few simple, yummy food replacements that can help you shape your body the right way, faster.

1. Swap Chips For Popcorn

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Some of us have the urge or craving to be always munching on something or the other. It’s definitely not a need, but that’s how our body works, right? And this constant need of chewing on something makes us grab that packet of potato chips. Well, instead of that packet of bad fat, why don’t you opt for the air-popped corns? The popcorns can be flavored according to your preference as well. Add a dash of your favorite spice mix or garnish it with some salt and pepper. Indulge your craving to munch in a healthier way.

2. Swap Mayonnaise For Mustard

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We use it as a dip for chips, we use it as a spread on our loaves of bread, but what we are not aware of is that this condiment is quite high in sugar and also contains a good amount of saturated fat content (1). We could swap it with mustard as it has the goodness of mustard in it and it is low in sugar as well as saturated fats (2).

3. Swap White Rice With Brown Rice

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There’s some of us for whom rice is an everyday staple food. We eat it for breakfast, for lunch, and dinner. If you belong to this category, then you need to understand that white rice isn’t all that healthy, it has a lot of carbs in it which can be very bad for diabetic people. Nature has provided us with a healthier option too like brown rice. Start eating brown rice instead of the white one, it’s a healthier alternative (3).

4. Swap White Flour With Coconut Flour

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We’re sure many of you aren’t even aware of its existence. Swapping white flour with coconut flour is a fabulous idea. Coconut flour is a rich source of protein and dietary fiber (4). The refreshing flavor of coconuts isn’t all that bad, after all. Use it for making your bread or cakes. Cakes are usually made of white flour that’s bad for your health, if you’re concerned about fitness, use coconut flour and make a healthy cake for yourself and your friends.

5. Swap Hamburgers With Mushroom Caps

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Aren’t burgers a thing of beauty? They are satisfying, they are a messy manifestation of everything umami. They are affordable, filling, and are perfect meals in themselves. How do we make it healthy now? Ever thought of replacing the otherwise junk, processed burger buns with naturally, fully-grown Portobello mushroom caps? They are naturally low-carb and provide us the same satisfaction as the burger bun (5). But hey, who cares right, we just need something to place the juicy meat or vegetable patty in between! Try the mushroom caps and notice the difference for yourself.

6. Swap Cocoa Powder With Cacao Powder

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Boy, we sure do love our chocolates, don’t we? But too much of cocoa is unhealthy. We found another magical ingredient to replace the magical cocoa in our delicacies that would taste just as sweet and that’s cacao. It’s rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and beneficial enzymes that aid in weight loss (6).

7. Swap Table Salt With Himalayan Salt

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Irrespective of how well you have perfected the recipe or how many flavors your dish is packed with, one cannot eat and appreciate it until, and unless it has salt in it. And we know the damage too much of salt can do, especially for those who suffer from blood pressure issues. The perfect solution to this is Himalayan salt. Use it instead of your regular table salt and lead a much healthier life.

8. Swap Mashed Potato With Mashed Cauliflower

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Mashed potatoes are like a cherry on the cake when it comes to steaks and English breakfasts. It completes these dishes. But we know that too much of potato can make our tummies resemble the potato itself. A healthier option would be cauliflower, as its texture is similar and it packs lesser carbs and there’s almost zero fat in it (7).

Similarly, you can choose honey over white sugar, baked carrot sticks over french-fries, iced tea over soft-drinks and the list can go on and on. It’s all about making a healthy choice. Have you made any such healthy swaps in your life already? Let us know in the comments below.

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