Diet Saviors! please share yours.

We all share a common goal- to drop the pounds! Some of you are just starting out and some (like me) have been working on this for a loooong time.

What are your absolute diet saviors! The things/foods you just could'nt do this without? Perhaps with sharing these nuggets of information we can make food that bit tastier and losing that bit easier.

I will start:

My steamer- a MUST have for fish & Veggies

1 Cal spray oil- For roasting and stir frys. They do a caesar dressing version and an olive oil too. BIG savior for me :o)

Laughing Cow extra light- great for crackers, using instead of butter on sandwiches, mashing into potatoes, dipping cucumber sticks into.

Lean Pork and Turkey mince (ground)- I use these in place of beef/lamb for burgers, chillis, bolognese etc.. tastes like beef if you crumble in a couple of beef stock cubes whilst browning!

Turkey! (In general)- Turkey sausages, turkey ham, turkey bacon, turkey breast steaks. Super low fat, lean and low calorie.

Fat free plain yoghurt- To make tasty dips/ dressings like tzatziki, raita, lemon etc.. good with jacket potatoes, salads, sandwiches, ryvitas, barbequed meats, dip for veggie snacks etc...

Empty Coke Bottles!!!- 2 Litre bottles filled with water. they make GREAT free weights. SCULPT THOSE GUNS!!!

Right, now I feel I've imparted a little wisdom. Please do share yours :o)

I've always avoided nonstick cookware, but it's saving me now. That and grapeseed and olive oil sprays.

Quorn products are lower in calories then they're meat counterparts and most of their veggies ones as well, plus they are delicious!

Pickles! They have barely any calories and if you're craving something salty give them a try.

Spicy foods (which I've always loved) help stop me from overeating and raise the metabolism a touch.

Miracle noodles!

Herbal or decaffeinated tea is great for when you might be hungry... but you might also be satisfied with some hot liquid.

Giant spinach salads! Having a big salad for dinner really does help me from night snacking. Night snacking is a huge problem for me so if I fill up with lots of fiber for my last meal I do better.

when ever im in a snacking mood i grab a pomegranate :D i love them. and it takes a long time to eat it.

Here are mine (with plenty of repeats--people have hit on a lot of good ones so far!)

-oatmeal (instant is really convenient and tasty but i am trying to eat real old-fashioned oats these days)
-spicy foods (i use hot sauce and mustard daily)
-lowfat cottage cheese
-mini cucumbers
-homemade hummus
-boca vegan burgers
-lean ground turkey
-yogurt (my favorites are stonyfield farms lowfat and chobani greek)
-low-cal bread products (la tortilla factory 80 cal tortillas, nature's own 50 cal white wheat bread, thomas 100 cal light english muffins)

Methods/etc.:

-scrambled eggs in the microwave. no oil required! you can use regular bowls or tupperware and they won't stick.
-measuring cups and spoons
-eat pasta sauce over steamed veggies and instant mashed potatoes instead of pasta. just 1 serving of pasta is 200 cals and it's not very much or very filling. 1 big bowl of idahoan instant mashed potatoes is 80 cals and it goes great with pasta sauce and eggplant parmigiana and stuff like that. i often add a whole pat of butter to that for a much more satisfying side that still has fewer cals than pasta. steamed broccoli is also bulky and great.
-big breakfasts. starting off your day hungry is a recipe for disaster.
-eat treats like cookies for breakfast and get your cravings over with, instead of saving them for night

I absolutely love Skinny Cow Dippers. The mint is my fave but they are all good and it gives me my little bit of chocolate and ice cream at the end of the day and at 80 calories a popsicle, there is no need to feel guilty!!!

Haven't been on in awhile =3

- Natural peanut butter

- Fruit such as apples, banana's, and oranges

- Vegetables such as greenbeans, green peas, and peppers

- Whole wheat bread

- Amys meals

- 100 calorie natural fruit popsicles

- Orange juice

- Oatmeal

- Cheerios ; fruity, plain, or honeynut

The list goes on and on. ^3^

-weight watchers or nimble bread 45 -48 cal

-hellmans etra light mayo 12 cals tablespoon

-flora extra light 19 cals 10g( if i have to use butter)

-butter spray obviously 1 cal

- thai green curry paste( stores own tend to be low cal and good for stir frys)

-herbs seasonings spices

-coffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

-sweetex, 0 cal sweetner tablets

-green tea

-reduced fat sausages 145 cals for 2

- fish fish fish

-tinned tuna in brine 145 cals

-veggies of all kinds, tripple portion of them with about 50g or pasta and a tin of tomatos with herbs makes a healty pasta meal thats not so heavy

-triple portion ratio of veggies with anything haha

-king prawns

-whole grain mustard

-options hot chocolate, great for my sweet cravings that happen alllllllll the time

-smints :)

oh and i forgot

sugar free red bull- 10 cals and boost the metabolism and eases craving

I'm new to this website but not to watching what I eat!  I am someone that has to be always aware of what I'm eating because I can gain weight seemingly overnight if I don't.

Tons of mine are repeats so I'll try and only list things that I haven't seen already....

Talpia - I just dampen it with water and then put a rub on it, I like spicy ones best, and either fry it in a pan sprayed with Olive Oil Spray or broil it.  It only takes a few minutes and is super Yummy!

Food scale - I got this for Christmas a couple of years ago and it changed my life, seriously!  It makes everything so easy and 100% accurate.  It sits out on the counter always as I use it for every meal both cooking and then portion control.

Sweet potatoes - you can do everything that you would normally do with an Idaho and they are SO good for you!  Mashed w/ a little ff vanilla yogurt is one of my favorites or cut into strips and baked.  So, good!!!

Canned Chicken - it has more protein than tuna and you can do all of the same things with it.  My favorite is a little ff mayo, sliced celery, splenda sweet pickle relish, sliced grapes and walnuts in a lettuce leaf.  Mmmmm - I'm making myself hungry!

Yum yum now im hungry!

Breakfast: two weetabix with skimmed milk and chopped banana - sweet and filling yum!

LOVE red apples, i eat them all the time!

Sugarfree jello

Caxton pink n white biscuits - 50kcal each, v sweet and only 79cent for six!!

One choc digestive a day keeps my choc craving away - not v healthy but it works for me!

love kiwis - 46 kcals each and so sweet

Hot oatmeal with low cal maple syrup - my comfort food for about 100kcals

Loads of water or hot milk (just add boiled water to small amount of milk - sounds horrible but its addictive!)

Crackers with laughing cow spread and slices of turkey - yummy lunch!

loving all the suggestions though xxx

I cant seem to find this 35 calorie bread!! I am from Canada and have checked safeway, walmart and sobeys. Any help??

Today after picking up many items from everyones list i found thinsations- oreo candy bites. They are 100 cal and taste AWESOME! I have a sweet tooth and find myself popping little candies here and there and realized how much they add up! These are a great replacement, they are delicious!!

Watermelon.. Helps tide over the huge sweet tooth I have!

Also I love the quaker oats instant oatmeal.  Perfect to take to work when I'm in a hurry in the mornings.

Another saver, for sure, are my luna bars.  My fav is the smore flavored one!

"Ice Cream Sandwich"

Low-fat honey graham crackers (2 full crackers = 1 serving) 110 calories

Cool whip free, 2 tbsp 15 calories

GREAT for cravings!

Also, Blue Bunny Fat Free, No Sugar Added Brownie Sundae Ice Cream!

Only 90 calories for 1/2 a cup! Oh AND 5 grams of fiber!

Soy Slender chocolate drink, reduced calorie, no sugar added, low fat, 1 g. net carbs, 70 calories for 8 fl. oz. I love the taste.

Coke Zero! No calories & I love the taste, better than regular Coke.

Oranges & other fresh fruit

Mashed potatoes made with no butter topped with a delicious almost-no-fat chicken gravy (I mix in some real home-made chicken broth to give it extra, less manufactured flavor)

Real home-made chicken broth. Great for soups, the gravy above, topping for rice and potatoes. Made in crock pot.

The BEST rice---Nishiki Premium Grade--made in a Zojirushi Rice Cooker. Both are top-rated. The rice is better than you get in most restaurants.

I can't live without...

sugar free gum

black coffee

melon and berries

apples

tea

diet coke, diet gingerale, diet snapple

baby carrots

salsa

sauted spinach

zuchinni & squash

roasted tomatoes, or tomatoes with salt & pepper

salads with no dressing, just lots of salt and pepper

grapefruit

crystal light

soy sauce

fat free cottage cheese with ground cinnamon

I can't live without these:

1. Yougurt / Yougurt Drink - the low-calorie variety, of course. :) Here in the philippines, Nestle has made pro-weight management varieties for their products. Their yougurt is 65 calories for 125g while their yougurt drink is only 65 calories for 250g. :D

2. Low-calorie soup - I believe the brand is called Sunbest, and another called Campbells. They both have 120 calorie soups. Winner! :D

3. Tuna (in can) - Again, here in the philippines, I buy Century Tuna (they even have Lite varieties). A can only has 200 to 240 calories. :)

4. Oatmeal - I mix four spoonful of oatmeal with 3 spoonful of choco drink (or 1 pack od diet swiss miss) together. That makes 250 calories! stone winner! :D

5. Shiitake mushroom - A can of the brand I buy only has 120 calories! I just stir fry it a little with salt and pepper!

6. Tofu - I eat this after workout. I cut them to cubes, boil them, then dip them in soy sauce and lemon. :)

7. Fresh fruits and veggies - my fave!!! i love pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, apples, brocolli, papaya, apples, banana, whatever! as long as they're fresh!

8. Green tea - love love love! i drink at least 2 cups a day! :D

9. Coffee - the low-calorie variety, only 60 calories per cup :)

10. Lemon juice - I juice the fresh lemon, add a pack od sweetener. and voila! instant drink! :D

11. Water, water, water - Me love myself lots of water! Thank you for this non-calorie drink! :D

12. Wheat Bread - The brand I buy (Gardenia) only has 180 calories for 2 big slices; those 2 slices has 7g of fiber and 8g of protein! yum!

13. Noodles - I have found this noodles that is only 30 calories for one pack; no cholesterol; and low-sodium. :D

14. Fish - I love fish! especially when eating out, I'd choose it over beef and chicken. they gotta be steamed though (please not fried) :D

Heinz tropical fruit cocktail pots.  1 of your 5 a day and under 100 calories, a good sweetner with your lunch.   Yoghurt definitely, especially for breakfast as I hate breakfast and can't eat anything large otherwise suffer bloating.  Also I love soup, it fills me up and is low in calories and really tasty

I don't typically eat foods that are marketed as 'diet', 'lowfat', etc. I've kept all sorts of 'bad' foods in my diet - cream, butter, and the like - just in small quantities.  To be able to lose 20 lbs and still enjoy whole butter has definitely saved me!  But here is a long list of the healthy things I consider saviors:

- lemon-lime seltzer: A generic brand from the grocery store.  My bf and I go through so much of this stuff it is sort of scary. But it's no cal and oh-so-good.

- digital scale

- kale: The single greatest vegetable in the history of mankind.  Try breaking the leaves into little pieces, coating it with a tiny bit of oil, and baking it on a sheet pan at around 375 for 7-12 minutes or until totally crispy (but not burned!). I actually prefer this to popcorn or potato chips.

- apples, bananas: Both make great portable breakfasts and snacks with waste that is easy to dispose of.

- canned tuna

- wheat berries: I just boil them until chewy and then add them to salads or eat them with lentils and kale.  They are more toothsome than brown rice and I think the flavor is better too. When given a choice, I prefer the hard winter red wheat berries over the soft white spring wheat berries.

- salmon: I don't buy it often because I'm really picky about getting it wild and fresh, but I love salmon soooo much.  Yes, I am also willing to marry it.  (whatddya think, salmon?)

- microplane grater: I use it for grating parmesan; because it is such a fine grater you can really get more flavor out of less cheese.  A couple of grams of cheese goes a long way with a microplane!

- krab: Yes, with a 'k', because we wouldn't want to offend the real crabs out there given their snappy pinchers.  I love the real stuff, but it is way out of my price range on a regular basis.  Krab is good in its own way and pretty healthy.

- Sriracha: Because chili and garlic are meant to be together forever. In my mouth.

- coffee and tea

- lentils

- frozen shrimp and scallops: The shrimp are easier to work with (I buy raw, shell-off) because you don't have to worry as much about waterlogging them while thawing, but both can be great if handled appropriately.

- tofu

- whole wheat pasta: When I first tried it, I was surprised to discover that I like it more than 'regular' pasta, the nutty flavor is really appealing.

- seasoned rice vinegar: rice vinegar+sugar+salt=all purpose seasoning extradordinare

- black beans

- Coca-Cola Zero: Yeah, this is an exception to the 'no diet food' thing.  The cherry version is good too.

- Bragg's liquid aminos: This is a sort of soy sauce like product that people either love or hate.  Actually most people have probably never heard of it, but I think it is awesome for tofu and stir fries.

- Seitan: I make seitan at home out of vital wheat gluten flour, but some stores carry it prepared.  

my veggie delights from subway.

my at home pilates work outs. I hate getting ready and going to the gym so the pilates work out from home makes it alot easier to work out.

How can I forget?!?!? How can I forget?!?

- Cereals ... aside from oatmeal, i also love muesli and clusters! :D

- Zip Lock ... thank god for this creation. now i can bring my cereal, slices of bread and whatnot wherever i go. i am not forced to eat anything i dont want again as i have stacked packs of cereals in my office :D

Smart Pop microwave popcorn: growing up, popcorn was a rare treat, so now whenever I have it I feel like I'm indulging myself :P  Whenever I feel like I'm about to go on a big overeating spree, one bag, tossed with whatever seasoning I have on hand, dumped in a big bowl lasts me HOURS and leaves me feeling full, all for about 260 calories (that's, like, a little more than four oreos! you know how fast I can eat four oreos?!)

Also, Leclerc's 100 calorie raspberry-vanilla granola bars, but not in the way they are intended: whenever I open one, they smell so artificially icky-sweet that half is enough to curb a sugar craving, and, anyways they're so tough that after chewing half my jaw is too tired to demand anything else.

My adorable super-tiny rice cooker: the third appliance I got after leaving home, after my microwave and mini-fridge - I have absolutely no idea how to make rice without a rice cooker. (hello, asian family!)