How Low Can You Go?

On a weekly basis I spend about an hour perusing the aisles of the grocery store on a continuous journey to find the lowest calorie products. Here is a list of my favorite items with the smallest amount of calories so you can get more bang for your bite.

Bread: Essential %100 Stone Ground Flaxseed Bread (Whole Foods) At 50 calories a slice, with flaxseed and 3 grams of fiber a serving I believe this is the healthiest bread I've found.

Even lower though, is Sara Lee's Delightful %100 Whole Wheat. At 45 calories a slice, this one tastes better but is lacking the flaxseed which I think helps you stay fuller longer.

Protein: I am a big fan of chicken and turkey, and while both are pretty healthy in any skinless baked form the "cleanest" product I've found is Jennie O's %99.8 fat-free ground turkey. At 120 calories per 1/2 cup it beats an equivalent 4 oz. portion of chicken by about 65 calories. Cook it in a skillet sprayed with Pam with any spices you desire.

Even better, extra firm-tofu. A 4 oz. portion of this weighs in at only 100 calories. Chop it up and add to a salad or stir-fry it with veggies.



Milk: This is probably the product I've spent the most time researching, and on the endless quest for lower and lower calorie milk products the best thing I have found is almond milk.

The Unsweetened Vanilla and Chocolate by Almond Breeze both pack only 45 calories a cup and the Original Unsweetened, only 40. Compared to Skim Milk at about 90 and even the lowest soymilk, Silk Light Plain at 70, this is by far the best option for smoothies or cereal when you need liquid and you don't want water.

Cheese: Kraft Fat-Free Shredded Cheddar and Mozzarella is only 45 calories for 1/4 a cup. Tastes great in quesadillas, salads, and over chicken dishes. Just don't let it sit too long after melting, it gets kind of funky :) It is often hard to find, but a Ralphs or Vons store is your best bet.

Kraft also makes singles at only 30 calories a slice in a wide variety of flavors...perfect for a grilled cheese on your low cal bread (see above).



Creamer: When Splenda just won't cut it, the best creamer to punch up your morning cup is Coffee-mate's Sugar-Free Vanilla, refrigerated. It's only 15 calories a tablespoon, beating their powder version which is 30. By far the very lowest one out there!