If I have said it once, then I have said it 1000 times...they key to maintaining a healthy weight is all in your diet. Oh don't get me wrong, exercising is very important. However, what good is burning 300 calories on the treadmill, if you hop off and eat 2500-3000 calories throughout the rest of the day? Not much!

However, what I've realized is that not many people truly know how to eat healthy and low cal/fat. It's not all that uncommon for us to chow down on a package of trail mix (which can have as much as 693 calories and 44 grams of fat in 1 cup) as an afternoon snack and feel as though we made the smart choice. For me, it's about realizing where the calories and fat in our food truly comes from (i.e. butter, cream, cheese), and then looking for ways to avoid those.

I found a great article on ways to quickly and easily cut calories from your diet. Here are some of the tips that I have followed in the past. Check out the article for LOTS more options.

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  SWITCH YOUR SOUP "You can assume that varieties made with milk or cream—like clam chowder or cream of broccoli—contain 25 to 50 percent more calories than those made with a tomato base or clear broth, such as minestrone or vegetable soup," says Brekke. When dining out, be sure to ask your waiter if the soup is dairy-free.Calories saved per 12 oz.: 100 to 200
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  ADD THE OLIVE OIL LAST We often think of sautéing as a lowfat cooking method, but some vegetables, such as eggplant, mushrooms, and greens, tend to soak up the majority of the fat that's added to the pan. Dean Rucker, executive chef at the Golden Door Spa in Escondido, California, suggests steaming your veggies instead, then tossing them with a few teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a pinch of red pepper flakes and sea salt.Calories saved per cup: 150
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  AVOID SALADS WITH "CRISPY" IN THEIR NAME Some options pack more than 500 calories and 25 grams of fat when tossed with regular dressing, says Molly Kimball, R.D., a nutritionist at Ochsner's Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans. Order your greens with grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon and lowfat dressing on the side.Calories saved: 250
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  CHOOSE WISELY AT BREAKFAST MEETINGS When fresh fruit salad or lowfat yogurt isn’t an option, you can still slash hundreds of calories by savoring four powdered sugar or glazed doughnut holes rather than that nutritious-sounding but humongous banana-walnut muffin.Calories saved: 280