Today I was thinking about how much the way we eat in our household has changed in the last few months. I am constantly being asked how I have lost the 35 pounds that I am down already and when I tell people I did it through healthy eating, they look at me like I am crazy. I would not call what I do from day to day a diet, I have treated myself with the occasional piece of chocolate cake or slice of pizza, but the difference is that on a day to day basis my choices are mostly healthy and portion controlled. Below are a few ways that I made a big difference by making little changes at home.


Using Turkey Instead of Beef

Instead of lean ground beef, I switched to lean ground turkey in our home. From Shepherds' Pie to meatloaf, it is all now made with ground turkey instead of ground beef. At first there was a slight texture difference, but the kids never noticed and now I do not either. The taste is still delicious and the price is pretty comparable.

In one 4oz. serving of 80% lean ground beef, there are 278 calories and 18g of fat. However, in Butterball 97% fat free ground turkey, there are only 120 calories and 3g of fat in the same size serving. This makes it easier to enjoy more of the foods you love without feeling guilty. 


Use Egg Whites Instead of Whole Eggs

No matter what you are baking or cooking, substituting egg whites can make quite a difference. Let's say you wanted to scramble three large eggs for breakfast, that would be 222 calories. Now, let's say you scramble one large egg with the equivalent of the other two eggs in egg whites only, now your total is only 108 calories!

I always mix in one whole egg with the egg whites when scrambling them or making omelets, because I do not like runny eggs and my kids won't eat them unless they are a little yellow. However, when baking or cooking with eggs, I always use straight egg whites and it often cuts 100 calories or more from the recipe.

Make Healthier Beef Choices

You do not have to cut out red meat when trying to eat healthier, you just need to be aware that some cuts are better choices than others. A Ribeye may taste delicious, but one 4oz servings has 296 calories and 24 grams of fat, but a Top Sirloin has only 156 calories and only 5 grams of fat. So, the next time you are shopping for a steak to grill, you may want to consider your choices more carefully.

Substitute Chicken or Turkey for Pork Products

There are many pork products that we like to use for meals around our house, but these are not always healthy choices. A few months ago, I discovered a whole new world of chicken and turkey alternatives that allowed me to have the same great taste at a much lower cost. Now, we use turkey bacon and chicken smoked and Italian sausages to make our delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. A single slice of pork bacon can have 70 calories or more, but a slice of turkey bacon has only half that at 35.

Do you have any healthy eating substitutes that you use at home? Feel free to let us know about them in the comment section below.