All topics

Some tips to eat lighter... and feel lighter!

Published on July 26, 2017 at 12:04 / Updated on May 8, 2018 at 20:53

A few minor changes can sometimes improve our diet and help us maintain a healthy weight or lose those few extra pounds. For example, cutting approximately 50 calories per day represents a loss of about 2.5 kg (5 lbs) by the end of the year. Here are some tips:  

At breakfast:

  • Don’t sweeten your coffee or tea. Instead, try to flavour it with a bit of vanilla or cinnamon. Skip the cream and opt for milk. If you already use milk, switch to lower-fat milk (e.g. go from 3.25% to 2% milk).
  • Don’t butter your toast if you plan to also add jam, peanut butter or cheese.

At the restaurant:

  • If you order a salad, choose a vinegar-based dressing, rather than a creamy one. Ask for it to be “on the side” and use only half the amount provided, since it is typically double the recommended portion.
  • Is a chicken sandwich a healthier option? It may be, as long as it’s made with grilled chicken, not breaded or fried!
  • Keep an eye on portions – restaurant portions are almost always more generous than the recommended quantities. Stop when you’re no longer hungry – you don’t have to eat everything!

Preparing lunches and meals:

  • Use low-fat mayonnaise in your sandwiches.
  • Ditch the fruit juice (even if it’s 100% natural), and instead drink water and eat a fresh fruit. If you don’t like to drink water, add slices of lemon, lime, cucumber or fruit to your water.
  • Do you use olive oil because of its health benefits? That’s good, but keep in mind that a single tablespoon contains 120 calories, so don’t overuse it! Don’t pour it right into the pan; instead, use a teaspoon or an oil atomizer.

Alcohol:

  • Alcoholised beverages contain a lot of calories, especially cocktails that combine alcohol, juice and a syrup! Reduce your portions, or dilute your beverage with some carbonated water.
  • Do you drink wine with dinner? Reduce your portion a bit (e.g. from 5 to 3 ounces – 150 to 90 ml).

You need to take medicine? Always check with your pharmacist to see if there are any food-related instructions (eg, eating or fasting) that you must follow.

The drugs and pharmaceutical services featured on the familiprix.com website are offered by pharmacists who own the affiliated pharmacies at Familiprix. The information contained on the familiprix.com site is for informational purposes only and does not in any way replace the advice and advice of your pharmacist or any other health professional. Always consult a health professional before taking or discontinuing medication or making any other decision. Familiprix inc. and the proprietary pharmacists affiliated with Familiprix do not engage in any way by making this information available on this website.