10 ways to cut 100 calories

Outsmart your appetite by secretly trimming 100 calories each day with these sneaky yet simple substitutions. You’ll never miss them!

Breakfast
Flavor your coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg instead of flavored syrup.

The evidence that coffee is healthy for you just keeps mounting. Consuming two to three daily cups of caffeinated drinks, including coffee, can cut your risk of dying from heart disease. Coffee may also significantly lower your likelihood of developing colon cancer.

Lunch
Enjoy your salad without the croutons.

To get that crunch you’re craving, toss in some extra carrots and celery instead. Carrots are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fibers. Celery contains pthalides, compounds that lower your blood pressure by relaxing artery walls.

Dinner
Order pizza with grilled chicken instead of pepperoni.

Chicken is an excellent source of selenium, niacin and vitamin B6 and a good source of zinc. Make sure it’s cooked until well done at 165 degrees F (or 74 degrees C) and no longer pink inside.

Portion control
Leave 3 or 4 bites on your plate.

Only eat when hungry! Always eat breakfast, munch on fiber all day long, include healthy protein at each meal and refuel every four hours. You must learn to recognize the physical cues that signal a true need for nourishment.

Side dishes
Season steamed vegetables with fresh lemon and herbs instead of butter.

In some vegetables, flavors intensify as the plant matures, which is why the so-called baby versions have wider taste appeal with just as many health benefits. Experiment with baby artichokes, squashes, turnips and carrots (the small ones sold in bunches, with greens still attached) and you may also like the more tender texture.

Desserts
Choose your piece of sheet cake from the middle, where there’s less icing.

A sweet new trend may help keep your waistline in check: mini-desserts! Portion size is key to keeping calories in check for a healthy dessert. Also, watch for hidden sugar in prepared foods. Many contain hefty amounts of sugar, but it’s hidden under aliases (such as barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, fruit juice concentrate, maltose, maple syrup, molasses) on ingredient panels.

Freshen your drink
Add a splash of 100 percent fruit juice to sweeten fresh brewed iced tea in place of sugar.

Enjoy at least one cup of tea every day. Whether it’s iced or hot, tea delivers a blast of antioxidant compounds. Tea helps to keep blood vessels relaxed and prevent blood clots. Flavonoids, the major antioxidants in tea, have been shown to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that leads to plaque formation on artery walls. These powerful antioxidants may even reduce cholesterol and even lower blood pressure.

Snacks
Control your portions by pouring an individual serving of pretzels or chips into a bowl instead of eating from the bag.

For some people, snacks between meals curb their appetite so they eat fewer calories overall. But for others, it can substantially increase the amount of calories they consume and lead to weight gain. So small portions are crucial. Buy whole grain pretzels or baked varieties of potato chips whenever possible.

Dinner
Ask for the bread basket to be removed from the table.

Order one or even two salads and your favorite burger or sandwich without the bun. To fill yourself up, create a big salad using protein from your sandwich. Avoid anything fried, and stay away from special sauces. Use two tablespoons of sauce, and ask the waiter to take the rest away to avoid dipping.

Be dip-savvy
Dip fruit into fat-free yogurt, and veggies in bean dip or salsa.

Beans are a great source of protein, fiber and folate. Most healthy salsas are only 80 calories a cup. The tomato-based versions are loaded with lycopene, a plant chemical linked to lower risks of cancer and heart disease.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25374014/?pg=2#Health_COT_100calories

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