Crackers 'n Cheese or Veggies 'n Dips

Sub in celery sticks or carrot sticks in place of crackers and yoghurt or cottage cheese based dips. For a Vegan alternative make your own hummus or dhal and use as a delish dip with veggie sticks. Prep your dips and sticks on a Sunday and keep in the fridge so they are always on hand if you need a quick snack!

Chips and Dips

Step 1: at least nix the dip and just enjoy a few chips on their own; Step 2 create an alternate crunchy savory snack as above with veggie sticks and lighter dips.

Grab a quick sandwich, wrap, burrito

It always seems so small right? But that tortilla, bread roll or 2 pieces of bread can quickly chew into your calorie/carb load by up to 300-400 calories! And that’s before the filling! Instead make the filling the hero and nix or halve the bread – load up on chicken, tofu, lamb, tuna or beans with slaw, salad, avocado and any other favorite veg. Keep the dressing light – yoghurt/chilli based or vinaigrette.

Pizza!

Would you believe there IS a way to eat pizza and stay on track to your goals? Yup it just takes re-writing the rules a bit… ;) Flip the settings – pizza is usually made up of a dough base and minimal toppings right? Instead minimize the base and MAXIMIZE the toppings: Eg Use a Pita Bread base or the low carb versions of tortilla you can find or make your own spaghetti squash versions AND load up the toppings – Beef, Chicken, Tuna, Tofu; chilli or satay sauce; tomato, peppers, olives and capers.

Nuts about nuts!

Peanuts and Cashews – they’re a pretty good stand by in the snack cupboard right? And they’re nuts so healthy right?? Umm yes … its complicated… a small handful of nuts = awesome sauce! Great little snack high protein and high fats and full of great nutrients and around 200 calories …. the BUT is we NEVER stop at a small handful do we?? If you are anything like me nuts are like catnip – its best to just not have them around and divert to any other snack or food option. Try Biltong – beef or turkey jerky , salted popcorn or even just something you like less – half an apple...

Cookies, muffins, pastries, donuts

Ah beware the ubiquitous pastry wolfed down in 3 bites ... or the ‘raw’ foods vegan slice… or a savory spinach muffin – it’s got veggies in it so it’s gotta be ok?? You can pretty much lump these guys all together in terms of calorie - it doesn’t matter if its savory or sweet or raw or vegan! The baseline of ingredients is the same – starch plus fats plus sugar of some sort - and the calorie load will be HIGH. Your best bet with these types of foods is to choose on size alone – the smaller the better!

Takeaways

Rule of Thumb accept that pretty much ALL fast food and even many restaurant meals will ALWAYS be loaded with extra FAT. Fat tastes GREAT and is a big part of why you want these foods more. Fat is used just as widely in vegan takeaways as meat so there is no way around it! That extra fat can easily double your calorie load for that meal. Smother whatever you have ordered in sauce? Add another few hundred calories again! There is really no easy alternative to eating takeaways besides cooking for yourself. If you do find yourself with no options try this: Ask for sauce on the side. Choose no bread/tortilla/chips etc. Burger salad options, ask for dressing on side. Chips only – no mayo or sauce. Avoid choosing deep fried anything.