Be Picky in 2006

eing picky isn't always a bad thing. We do ourselves a favor by being a little pickier about what we put into our bodies. Think about it; what we eat becomes part of our bodies, so eat what you would like yourself to be and honor your body with excellent food.

Excellent foods are natural foods, including organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, beans, soy, nonfat organic dairy, and organic olive oil. Processed foods are virtually unnecessary for good health or weight loss, though they are the mainstays of diets such as Atkins, South Beach, and Weight Watchers. You don't need special shakes, bars, or frozen entrees to help you lose weight and you would be doing your health a favor to avoid them.

If your aim is to lose weight, then the best way to do so is to choose natural foods in their least processed forms. It's virtually impossible to avoid all processed foods in this day and age, but there are many less processed, less damaging choices you can make to cut calories and unhealthful ingredients such as partially hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn syrup, sodium, and saturated fats. Read on for my "picky" picks for 2006.

Instead of…	Try…	You'll save…
1 Balance Bar	1 cup edamame in shells	110 calories, 4g fat, 4g saturated fat
1 bag Lay's classic potato chips (2.5 oz. bag)	1 ounce Guiltless Gourmet baked blue corn tortilla chips	265 calories, 23g fat, 8 g saturated fat
1 Krispy Kreme glazed raspberry filled doughnut	1 slice whole grain bread, 1 tablespoon almond butter, 1 teaspoon fruit jam	90 calories, 7g fat, 3g saturated fat, 5g trans fat
6-ounce scoop ice cream	2 Dove dark chocolate Promises	260 calories, 13g fat
1 cup whole milk	1 cup organic fat-free milk	65 calories, 8g fat, 5g saturated fat
1 cup heavy cream	1 cup fat-free evaporated milk	630 calories, 88g fat, 55g
16 ounce whole milk caffé latte	12 ounces brewed coffee with whole milk and sugar	200 calories, 12g fat
1 ounce Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies	1 ounce Barbara's organic Snackimals chocolate chip cookies	40 calories, 4g fat, 2g trans fat
1 tablespoon oil or butter	1 teaspoon olive oil	80 calories, 10g fat
1 cup cole slaw	1 cup Jessica's Super Antioxidant Chopped Salad	260 calories, 17g fat, 3g saturated fat
3 ounces French fries	3 ounces baked sweet potato "fries"	185 calories, 1g fat, 3g saturated fat
8 ounces extra lean ground beef (83% lean)	8 ounces ground turkey breast	290 calories, 35g fat, 14g saturated fat
12 ounces Coke	11 ounces Perrier with lime	140 calories, 35g sugar
2 ounces cheddar cheese	1 tablespoon grated Reggiano Parmesan cheese	210 calories, 18g fat