Snacks - Swap Them with This Anti-Deprivation Tool

The minute I think I can't enjoy my favorite snack, I perseverate about it. Unless I change my environment drastically, I keep imagining those hot nachos or the candy bar. Crunching on carrots or celery triggers resentment and feelings of deprivation, sorta like that woman in the picture. But this cool Snack Swapper tool over at Never Say Diet gives you the green light to go ahead and have that snack on occasion, provided you prepare it in a healthier way.

Clicking on two of my favorites revealed these solutions:

Nachos -- One cup of typical nachos has 560 calories and about half your daily fat. Ugh. Try cutting soft flour tortillas, crisp in a 400 F oven, then top with a variety of favorite chopped veggies, fat-free refried beans and sprinkle lightly with low-fat cheese. Bake. Love it! Salsa is pretty guilt-free, too.
Coffee Drinks -- I love coffee drinks, but a mocha with whipped cream is around 400 calories. There's no way I can enjoy them, unless it's a rare treat. Downsize your dream coffee drinks by ordering skim instead of whole milk, skip the whipped cream and pick a smaller size. My favorite is a skinny latte at Starbucks or a caffe Americano with a bit of cream or whole milk. I never add sugar, but I can never skip the cream, either.

Trying these common sense swaps will help keep your snack deprivation at bay. But remember -- calories in/calories out will ultimately direct your movement up or down the scale. Eat too many swapped snacks and you will gain weight.