I have recently identified a new occupation. This is not a job you get paid to do, it is something that millions of Americans greatly enjoy and gladly participate in! This new occupation is none other than Food Dresser. So how do you know if you’re a food dresser? Well, it’s really simple. Do you load all of your food with things like butter, sour cream, salad dressings, sauces, or cheese? If so, then the answer is yes…you are a Food Dresser.

So what’s wrong with dressing up your food? A baked potato is nothing if it’s not packed with butter, sour cream, and cheese, right? The problem with adding all these extra ingredients to your food is the fact that it greatly increases the number of calories you take in! It’s so easy to take a perfectly healthy meal and make it very unhealthy with just the sauce.

Often someone tells me they had a “salad” for lunch, so they feel like they made a healthy choice. I learned that the term “salad” means different things to different people. To me, the term “salad” means a plate full of healthy vegetables, perhaps topped with a good source of protein, such as grilled chicken or fish, a light dressing or vinaigrette for dipping. Unfortunately, this is NOT everyone’s definition!

If your salad is dressed with things like fried chicken, bacon, cheese, crispy fried noodles, and topped with a creamy dressing, I’ve got news for you. It’s just not a healthy option. Just because there’s lettuce somewhere in your meal doesn’t mean it’s healthy for you! Just two tablespoons of ranch dressing can add about 150 calories to your meal, and who really measures just two tablespoons of dressing? An ounce of cheese can add about 100 calories to your meal, as can an ounce of grated bacon. So in an instant, your healthy 300-400 calorie meal can easily reach 800-1000 calories.

Preparing food can be an expensive occupation when it comes to your health and fitness. I mentioned earlier that you don’t pay to be a food dresser, but that’s not necessarily true. If you go overboard with sauces, dressings, and dressings, you may be paying a heavy price for added fat to your body.

So if you’re a bona fide food grocer, but really want to lose weight and lead a healthier, fitter lifestyle, what can you do? Do you have to stop being a food dresser altogether? Absolutely not! What you need to do is make healthier choices by adding a little pizzazz to your food. Here are some quick and easy tips you can use to avoid sabotaging your fitness goals by stacking the ingredients!

First of all, think about portion control. If there’s a dressing you can’t live without, keep your portion small. That way you can try and you won’t feel deprived. Choose light or fat-free versions of dairy products like cheese or sour cream, and once again watch your portions! When ordering your food at a restaurant, request that all sauces or salad dressings be placed on the side. Dip your food in the sauce instead of smothering it and you’ll easily save hundreds of calories! You know the baked potato I mentioned earlier? Try topping it with salsa, a dollop of fat-free sour cream, and a sprinkle of fat-free cheese.

The first step to leading a healthier, fitter lifestyle is to start making small, manageable changes to your eating and exercise habits. Making a simple change to become a “healthy” food dresser will get you one step closer to improving your health, losing a few unwanted pounds, and achieving your fitness goals!