Save calories so you can eat out more.

We love eating out (at independent restaurants, of course! www.localshops1.com for cool choices), and we don't always choose the healthiest options. So when we're home we're always looking for ways to cut back on calories and stick to a healthy diet.

We got an e-mail recently from sparkpeople.com, with tons of tips. Here are some of our favorite suggestions from their list. For more suggestions, you can go to their site, here:

Beverages

* Drink 1 cup of diet soda instead of 1 cup of regular soda. Save 97 calories!
* Swap a 12-oz. glass of whole milk for skim milk. Save 96 calories!
* Drink two 12-oz. light beers this weekend instead of two regular beers. Save 100 calories!
* Prepare your coffee with 4 oz. of fat-free half and half instead of regular half and half. Save 88 calories!


Breakfast

* Spread your whole grain waffles with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup instead of 1 tablespoon of margarine or butter. Save 110 calories!
* Substitute 3 oz. of turkey sausage for a serving of pork sausage. Save 120 calories!
* Grab a small bagel instead of a medium bagel. Save 99 calories!

Snacks and Sides

* Dip 1 cup celery into your favorite salsa or hummus instead of 1 oz. of tortilla chips. Save 125 calories!
* Eat an entire medium apple instead of a small (5 oz.) candy apple. Save 118 calories!
* Bake 2 oz of oven fries in lieu of 2 oz. of fast food fries. Save 88 calories!
* Try 1.5 oz. of fresh grapes instead of 1.5 oz. of raisins. Save 98 calories!
* Choose 3 oz. of mozzarella cheese for your sandwich instead of Swiss cheese. Save 108 calories!


Lunch and Dinner
* Substitute a fat-free beef hot dog for a regular beef hot dog. Save 104 calories!
* Build a sandwich with 1.5 oz. of deli turkey breast instead of an equivalent of hard salami. Save 119 calories!
* Forget broccoli cheddar soup. A 7-oz portion of vegetable soup is better. Save 119 calories!
* Unwrap your 13-inch tortilla wrap and make a sandwich on a 3-oz. whole grain bagel instead. Save 96 calories!
* Eat only half of your hamburger or sandwich bun. Save 100 calories!

Condiments and Sauces

* Dip your salad in a side of ranch dressing (2 tsp.) instead of pouring 2 Tbsp of dressing on the salad. Save 97 calories!
* Add flavor to vegetables with 3 oz. of hot sauce—not 1 oz of bleu cheese dressing. Save 117 calories!
* Try either cheese or croutons on your salad—not both Save 72-116 calories!


Sweets and Desserts

* Serve ice cream in a dish instead of a waffle cone. Save 121 calories!
* Finish dinner with 1 cup of low-fat frozen yogurt instead of regular ice cream. Save 121 calories!
* Instead of 4 oz. of regular chocolate pudding, enjoy a sugar-free portion. Save 92 calories!