Dieting - Comparing Good Apples to Bad Apples

Copyrighted by Diet Bites

Generally, when we're on a diet, we often try to visualize 'healthier alternatives' by comparing healthy foods to unhealthy foods. A good example is an apple versus a slice of apple pie. However, if you've visited Diet Bites you'll know that we don't necessarily consider a slice of apple pie to be an unhealthy food.

Many Diet Miesters will get out the whip and leather boots when it comes to incorporating an 'evil' food into your diet. While an apple is definitely a healthier choice than a slice of apple pie, it doesn't make the pie unhealthy. It's all about moderation.

Defining Evil Food Choices

Generally, if dieters don't allow a satisfying treat into their diet, they're apt to fall off the Diet Wagon. On the other hand, it's very difficult to stop with just one tasty treat, so it's all about what? Moderation? Yes!

Fried Food vs Baked/Boiled/Roasted Food

The nutrition content of a specific food can be altered greatly - simply by how it is cooked. Let's use an innocent potato as our 'victim'.

Preparation Method	Serving Size	Approximate Calories
Baked, Boiled or Roasted	1 medium	120
French Fries	about 20 small sticks	250
Potato Chips	about 25 chips	250
Scalloped	1 cup	210
Au Gratin	1 cup	320
Mashed	1 cup	160
Hash Browns	1 cup	240
O'Brien	1 cup	160
Potato Pancake	1 medium	234
Potato Salad	1 cup	400

As we can see, we can trim mega calories by preparing foods in a healthy manner, such as roasting, broiling, boiling and even stir frying.

Wow! Ix-nay on the Potato Salad, eh? Frankly, I'd rather enjoy two cupcakes or a large slice of cake for my 400 calories. Better yet, one cupcake and one whole roasted potato. Or perhaps, one slice of tasty apple pie....

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