Cut calories, not taste

Dieting doesn’t have to mean giving up taste, and that’s for real.

Dieting doesn’t have to mean giving up taste, and that’s for real, nutritionists say. A few tips:

Substitute meats: Try chicken instead of bacon, for example. Use extra flavourings and vegetable toppings to boost the flavour of meat dishes.

Flavour your water: In place of lemonade, squeeze fresh lemon into a glass of water. For a lower-calorie ‘juice’, stir in a sugar-free mix.

Cut the fat in recipes: Most baked goods do fine with a third to a half less oil or butter. Make gradual cutbacks and experiment with healthier ingredients. Use nonstick pans and cooking spray.

Emphasise egg whites: Use one egg white and one whole egg instead of two whole eggs in scrambles and omelets. The yolk is higher in calories.

Buy reduced-fat dairy: These versions of milk, cheese, etc. taste good and will work in most recipes.

Cut down on high-fat extras: Use half the amount of frosting on cakes or replace it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Put fewer chocolate or peanut butter chips into cookies — you’ll still get the flavour.

Gowhole wheat: Swap half the white flour in recipes for the whole-wheat version. Pasta, rice and bread also come in tasty, fibre-rich whole-wheat versions.

Move slowly: When switching to diet soda or another low-calorie product, don’t give up after a few tries. Your taste buds often will adjust.

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— MCT