6 Clean Eating Swaps To Cut Belly Fat

March 22, 2015

There’s a new eating trend that’s been in news, and this time, it’s not a fad diet. It is simply a lifestyle change. Right from health-conscious celebrities like Katy Perry and Gwyneth Paltrow, to modern chefs and fitness bloggers, everyone’s raving about the benefits of clean eating.

Eating clean helps you lose weight and get fitter. But it is a relatively mindful concept. It does not simply promote weight loss; it is more of a holistic approach to food and the act of eating. The rules are simple–you eat whole foods or “real” foods and cut out on processed or refined varieties. The goal is to eat only what seems as natural as possible. In addition, it also encourages you to include the three main pillars of any healthy diet: proteins, carbs and healthy fats.

However, we are so consumed with all the overwhelming amounts of food around us, sometimes it’s hard to de-clutter all the junk and spot the right foods. Nevertheless, making small changes can get your started.

You simply have to swap out the bad and bring in the good. Here are some easy clean eating tips:

1. Swap Condiments For Herbs & Spices
Condiments include the likes of table salt, ketchup, mustard, and relish. Adding them to your food scales up the calories in it, and yet they don’t provide much nutritional value. On the other hand, herbs and spice such as thyme, rosemary, cumin, nutmeg, and cinnamon contain no calories, yet most of them are rich in antioxidants, and have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

2. Swap Refined Sugar For Natural Sweeteners
Refined sugar is a processed form of sugar that provides no nutritional value, yet adds to a number of health risks like dental troubles, obesity, diabetes, and energy dips. However, we understand that one can’t go through life without a kick of sweetness now and then; for this, try natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup or agave nectar. Yes, these contain sugar too, but are not half as hazardous as refined sugar. Since they are just concentrated forms of natural foods, they provide nutritional benefits in the form of minerals and antioxidants.

3. Swap Pasta For Spaghetti Squash Or Zoodles
Pasta is again a form of refined flour with no particular health benefits. While whole wheat pasta is also a good swap, we suggest you opt for spaghetti squash or zoodles (zucchini noodles). It’s always a better idea to add more veggies to your meal and it’s completely natural. Try this delicious spaghetti squash and tomato ragout recipe instead of your usual pasta meal.

4. Swap Sour Cream For Greek Yogurt
While sour cream is full of empty calories, Greek yogurt is an excellent source of protein. It is slightly thicker and tangier in taste than regular yogurt, nevertheless it is much healthier. Add in some fruit, honey or maple syrup to make a yummy treat, or simply replace sour cream with Greek yogurt in your burritos. You can use plain yogurt to make smoothies or creamy salad dressings.

5. Swap Juices & Energy Drinks For Flavored Water
Juices and energy drinks contain some nutrients but the sugar quantity surpasses their benefits. Opt for flavor-infused water instead. All you have to do is fill a jar of water and soak some fresh ingredients like strawberries, basil, tangerine, or lime, to flavor the water. This drink is a delight to your taste buds, but extremely low on calories. Plus, it encourages you to drink more water.

6. Swap Mayo For Avocado Spread Or Hummus
A sandwich or wrap is just incomplete without a creamy spread to keep it together. Instead to choosing fat-laced mayo, pick healthier spreads like avocado or hummus that’s made with fresh produce and has essential nutrients too. These spreads also make for an amazing dip.