If you're a carb queen, you don't discriminate. You'll gladly bite into a warm and chewy roll or a forkful of pasta, grab a handful of pretzels, or devour a just-out-of-the-oven blueberry muffin. While I'm all for enjoying carbs, loading up on bread products isn't the best tactic if you're trying to drop pounds. See how many calories you'll save by making these easy bread swaps with fruit and veggies.
Source: Thinkstock [1] and Flickr user saaleha [2]
Breakfast Swap
Swap an apple for bread [3]:
One medium apple: 93 calories [4]
Two slices whole-wheat bread: 200 calories [5]
Calories saved: 107
Photo: Jenny Sugar
Lunch Swap
For your sandwich, use spinach or swiss chard leaves instead of a wrap:
Six spinach leaves (slightly steamed so they stick together): 14 calories [6]
One whole-wheat wrap: 130 calories [7]
Calories saved: 116
Source: POPSUGAR Social user prepel [8]
Snack Swap
Forget crunching down on a bag of potato chips, and bake these using spinach instead [9]:
A one-ounce serving of potato chips is 160 calories [10].
A serving of spinach chips is 75.
Calories saved: 85
Photo: Jenny Sugar
Snack Swap
Skip the crackers and use cucumber slices instead:
One-fourth of a cucumber (about six slices): 11 calories [11]
Six Triscuits: 120 calories [12]
Calories saved: 109
Source: Flickr user saaleha [13]
Dinner Swap
In your favorite lasagna recipe, use tender spaghetti squash instead [14] of whole-wheat pasta:
One serving of gluten-free cheesy veggie "pasta" bake: 208 calories [15]
One serving of vegetable lasagna: 314 calories [16]
Calories saved: 106
Photo: Jenny Sugar
Dinner Swap
Swap a side of sautéed spinach for a side of mashed potatoes:
1 cup sautéed spinach: 41 calories [17]
1 cup mashed potatoes: 237 calories [18]
Calories saved: 196
Dinner Swap
Skip the fettuccine noodles for carrots [19]:
One two-ounce serving of pasta is 200 calories [20].
One two-ounce serving of carrots is 23 calories [21].
Calories saved: 177
Photo: Jenny Sugar
Dessert Swap
Instead of cookies, go for fruit and chocolate:
Two chocolate-covered strawberries: 89 calories [22]
Two homemade chocolate chip cookies: 178 calories [23]
Calories saved: 89