10 Ways to Make Dinner Healthier

1.  Use broth instead of oil.

This cuts down on the amount of fat by a landslide!  Steam, sauté or roast veggies, beef, chicken and more in broth.

2.  Opt for spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles in place of regular pasta.

During the next 30 days, you will probably want a quick easy dinner like in the old days - pasta with sauce.  When the craving hits, use spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles instead.

3.  Load up the veggies.  

No matter what recipe you’re following, you can always add vegetables or make a side dish.  If it makes too much, so what?  Have it for lunch the next day.

4.  Use smaller plates.  

Portion control can be a big problem, so try what I do and use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate.  You’ll be amazed at how little it actually takes to satisfy an appetite.  

5.  Chew slower!  

Take a sip of water in between each bite, sit down at the dinner table and have a conversation…whatever works best.  Slow chewers are known to eat fewer calories in the end because they can tell when they are full rather than the fast chewers who don’t give their body enough time to figure out if their full or not!

6.  Serve the meal with a salad or broth based soup. 

Fill up on a veggie loaded salad or enjoy a broth based soup with tons of veggies to go with your meal, so you maximize the amount of veggies you're getting.

7.  Flavor dishes using spices, herbs or homemade marinades instead of sodium-laden store bought ones.  

There are only a few marinades and spice mixes that don’t contain too much sodium, but what they all definitely have is some sort of preservative to keep them “fresh.”  Instead, stock up on spices and fresh herbs, and make marinades from things you already own.

8.  Bake instead of fry, or use an air fryer.  

Anything from homemade french fries to crispy chicken cutlets can be done in the oven, requiring only a little amount of oil so it cuts down on the fat big time.  An air fryer is another great alternative, as you'll get the same satisfactory crunch but without all of the oil.

9.  Go for a walk around the neighborhood.  

​This will also help to fend off unneeded calories and give you some extra exercise.  Taking even a short 20 minute walk will give you close to 2000 steps!

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10.  After dinner, brush your teeth or have a strong mint.  

No one wants to drink OJ in the morning right after they brush their teeth, catch my drift?  Doing this will give your body time to relax and digest instead of immediately heading to the cookie jar.