What foods could you not diet without?

Last night, I was eating my after dinner sweet snack and thought to myself "I don't know what I'd do without my Jello! I'd probably give up and down a carton of chocoalte ice cream!"

I thought it would be interesting to hear what everyone uses to substitute and make it through their daily cravings.

For me, I LOVE cold sweets. Ice cream, strawberry shortcake, pie etc. So, I couldn't make it without Strawberry Jello with Fat Free whipped topping, Fudge popsicles and dessert flavored yogurts. All low calorie and way better than what I was eating before.

I do even have a pint of Whirrled Peace Ben & Jerry's in my fridge. It's been there, un opened for 2 weeks now. I still am choosing my Jello or popsicles over that pint of sinful yumminess. But now, I'm actually starting to crave the healthier sweets instead.

i love Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choices and SBD meals, and chicken breast strips and packaged salad and Fiber One caramel delight cereal and Sara Lee whole wheat bread and Thomas's english muffins and shredded frosted wheat and vanilla soy milk and Edy's no sugar frozen fruit bars just to name a few things, lol

I love Lean Cuisines too! So easy for weekday lunches.

Sugar free pudding....30 calorie chocolate bars....CUCUMBERS!!! I am a cucumber addict. and I love fiber on and lean cuisine too!!!

Apples.

Sugar & Fat Free Yogurt (Splenda sweetened)

Vegetables

Hummus. Not only is it amazing on light toast, I use it to substitute for salad dressing, mayonnaise, and pretty much any sauce that is higher calorie than I prefer.

Fat Free Sour cream! Like shinyblackpit, I use it in place of mayo or salad dressing...

But it has to be the kind you get in the States not the "skim milk jello" that we carry in Canada.

Yoplait Light Fat free yogurts! Mmmm Raspberry Cheesecake, Lemon Meringue Pie... Again, not to be found in canada :o(

Fat Free (not baked) Lays! Taste just like the real thing, I don't eat them often, but they sure kick that salt craving. Canadians, don't rush to the grocery store, you won't find em here. Sorry :oS

Needless to say, I make the 2 hr trek to cross border shop about once every 6 weeks, and dig through the whole dairy cooler looking for the longest expiry dates LOL

Oh my gosh raw veggies with light sour cream and (ranch dip mix) dip, also...potatoes, ummm Healthy Recipe Tomato Soup!!  I know there are more!

Pickles! Super low cal and yummy. 

I munch on pickles a lot. Hamburger dills... they kick my salty craving!

I am so in love with light swiss laughing cow cheese wedges!! I put them on EVERYTHING!  Also I love light wheat bread. Nickels (which may only be a local brand) is actually made with wheat flour and not enriched flour like other light "wheat" breads! Campbell's light southwestern and light italian vegetable soups are amazing. I also love mrs. t's mini potato and cheddar porgies are awesome too. I have too many staples!

I totally agree about the Fiber One Caramel Delight cereal.  it's changed my life.

But my other vice has got to be Stacy's Pita Chips (Plain).  They totally kick my chip/salty/carb cravings and because they're so thick I fill up quicker and eat a lot less than I would if I was eating regular chips.

I can't think of a single thing.  I've switched to all fresh foods, cooked from scratch.  I no longer need "diet" products. 

My advice is to get away from all that processed food. 

I have fresh foods that I couldn't do without either.

Two words: Brussel Sprouts!! I

 have these for dinner just about every other night and can't imagine getting sick of them. They're nutritous, delicious and only like 8 calories each. Spray on some 0 calorie spray and some salt substitute and I'm in heaven!

Splenda was a miracle invention for me. =)

• Oatmeal
• Hummus
• Dark chocolate
• Peppers
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Apples
• Banana
• Spinach
• WATER

Mine is Weight Watchers cookies and cream Ice Cream bars!!!

• fat free greek yogurt
• babybel light cheese
• breakstone's cottage cheese snack cups
• almonds
• walnuts
• black coffee
• spring mix
• chicken breast
• salsa
• oatmeal
• almond butter
• wild blueberries
• whey protein

I could not live without

• fresh fruit and veggies
• laughing cow cheese wedges
• non-fat yogurts
• chicken
• seafood
• mustard
• coffee
• splenda
• wheat bread
• oats
• frozen meals for those lazy/on-the-go days
• kashi cereals

I cannot diet WITHOUT any of my food staples... the most important ones are:

- Salmon Belly

- Eel

- Hamachi Collar

- Grass-fed beef, bison, ostrich, elk, venison, goat & lamb

- Spinach

- Cherry Tomatoes & Tomato Paste

- Kelp Noodles & Nori 

- Eggplant & Zucchini

- Spaghetti Squash 

- Onions & Bell Peppers 

- Asparagus & Green Beans

- Garlic & Salt & Pepper 

- Olive Oil 

I could not diet without:

• apples!!
• zucchini
  
• broccoli
• asparagus
• cabbage
• frozen mixed berries
• Pita bread
• HMR honey graham bars
• Splenda
• Michelina's frozen meals
• Diet Cola Cupcakes!
• baked potatoes