How to Cut Calories: Add Fresh Mushrooms

Here's a simple way to slash major calories from some of your favorite comfort foods -- and you won't miss a thing.

When you're making lasagna, sloppy joes, chili, and other ground beef dishes, use chopped mushrooms instead of meat. If you're like the people in a recent study, you'll naturally eat about 420 fewer calories with these mushroom-enriched meals.

The Other Red Meat
People in the study also said the mushroom makeovers tasted just as good and kept them feeling full just as long as the beef versions did. And not only did the mushroom-based dishes mean a lower-calorie meal, but the mushroom eaters also ate fewer calories and less fat throughout the day than the beef eaters did. (Check out the Savory Mushroom Stroganoff recipe in this article.)

Savory Substitutions
Switching beef for mushrooms is just one way to cut calories and fat. Here are some other easy substitutions that can help your health and tame your appetite:

• Cheese pleaser: Skip the whole-fat cheddar and try these healthier -- but just as creamy -- cheese options.
• Sausage saver: Switch to these guilt-free supermarket sausages.
• Smart snack: Just say no to Cheese Nips and Oreo Thins, and grab one of these wonderful 100-calorie treats instead.

Video: Try this healthy, stealthy way of sneaking more vegetables into everyday meals.

Lack of energy compensation over 4 days when white button mushrooms are substituted for beef. Cheskin, L. J. et al., Appetite 2008 Jul;51(1):50-57.