Eliminating Unnecessary Calories

I have to say, you have everything down!  I am only 5 months out but seek your posts for great advise.  The only thing I consciously think about is staying away from anything that will sweeten food or a drink.  I found out early, what I needed was water and to put flavoring in it, was just looking for flavor, I didn't need to seek out sweet flavors! Been there, done that!   ~Cheers

I love coffee w/ cream.  I will now only allow myself that indulgence if I'm at our local coffee shop (once every 2-3 weeks).  In my daily coffee I use Kroger carbmaster milk.  60 calories for 1 cup - my coffee generally ends up using 1/4-1/2 c per day depending on how many cups I drink!  So 30 cals for the day and 6 g protein.  boom

I don't use condiments but I do season w/ fresh herbs, salt, pepper, and dry seasonings so that I don't miss them.

One area I really need to find a good substitute is salad dressing.  Right now I don't eat much salad so it's a non-issue but it's something that I'm already trying to figure out for the future.  I really love cream dressings (read Ranch in many varieties) and can't stand the "lite" versions.  I'm going to try my hand at making some w/ Greek yogurt as someone (happyteacher?) mentioned above.

I use lean ground turkey almost exclusively when red meat is called for.  Shaves a few calories.

That's all I can come up with at the moment. 

On the red meat thing you should try to get some once or twice a week, especially for women, there are lots of good things for muscle growth in beef that does not exist in poultry. Plus you get a good dose of iron as well.

Do you not worry about cholesterol with a meat based diet?  Or saturated fat?  I get plenty of iron in supplements and I cook in cast iron.  My hemoglobin levels are excellent.  When we do eat red meat it's venison.  If I buy red meat at the market it's steak or roast.  I just don't trust the meat industry w/ ground beef.  Food is creates such anxiety in me.  I strive for optimum health as well as humanely raised and processed animals and the least environmental impact I can find.  Ugh.  

Keith... I like your plan to cut unnecessary calories... I'm currently re-evaluating my life and getting back on track... and this is a PERFECT place to start!!! I've had to ditch my coffee because like the other ladies I love my creamer. I did like the idea of the chike(and yes I had to goggle it because I'm a dork)... gonna have to try it.  I'm back!!!!!!!

Jerri

We really do have to think about every bite and sip. 

I have started drinking "real" coffee again and the problem is I like it too much and like the creamer!  Soooo I think its back to decaf again, I don' t like it as much and drink less.  I have put soy milk in my coffee and its not too bad.

I count calories (and everything else) so any condiments have to fit in the calorie/carb/fat/protein goal.

Olive oil mayo has a lot less calories than regular mayo.

I have been using mustard and salsa ALOT as my main condiments.  I don't think I have had ketchup since surgery. Full fat salad dressings are carefully measured and counted.  I don' t think the fat is too bad, but there is a lot of added sugar.

I love raisins and craisins, I was eating them almost every day.  I will limit their frequency for sure. 

Anne