The New Switcheroo.

Eat the Healthy Version of Whatever You Want

Living a more nutritious lifestyle doesn't mean you have to become a vegan or go on a two-week all-fruit cleanse. It's not about calorie counting and high-fiber, cardboard-flavored rice cakes, either. You can improve your daily health by substituting a few key ingredients and by making some snacking concessions. These tips will make a big difference, and your taste buds won't notice a thing.

Fill Up First

Eat what's good for you at the beginning of the meal. Start with a salad, eat your vegetables, and then move on to the main dish. When you start feeling full, stop. You're not changing what you eat, really, just the order you're eating in. After a good meal is the best time to go grocery shopping. You won't buy things with ìhungry eyesî and you will be more likely to keep your selections on the healthy, non-impulsive side.

Good Nutrition You'll Hardly Notice

Start with the small things you sprinkle on, pour in, or eat with your meals. Here are some easy ways to substitute the good for the bad:

Try trading in that butter and jelly for honey. It's full of natural nutrients.
Drink diet soda instead of regular. Better yet, try sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice.
When preparing food, spray your pan with PAM® cooking spray, rather than using vegetable oil, to save on fat and calories.
Use skim or 1 percent milk instead of whole milk.
Replace butter with soft, non-hydrogenated margarine.
If a recipe calls for a cup of flour, substitute half of it with whole-wheat; it's a great source of fiber.
Slip some trout, salmon, or tuna into the meal rotation to boost your intake of healthy fats.

These simple alternatives are lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol without tasting like healthy alternatives.

Let Them Eat Cake... and Cookies

Keep healthy snacks, cakes, and cookies around to reward yourself. To make these treats the smart way, replace shell eggs with Egg Beaters®. You also can fold raisins, instead of chocolate chips, into that cookie dough. Or whip up a reduced-fat icing to spread on a lemon cake. Try not to snack past 8 p.m., though. A good way to help prevent the munchies is to brush your teeth a few hours before bed. It'll freshen up your mouth and decrease late-night cravings.

Make It Stick

Be practical. Only make substitutions you can live with. Don't replace your favorite ingredient with a tasteless alternative.
Plan to fail. Often. Everyone slips up sometimes. Don't let one mistake foil everything you've worked so hard for.
Celebrate every pound lost and set small goals. This isn't a get-thin-quick plan. You should lose some weight, but the goal is steady nutrition and healthy living.

Take a Staycation!

Whether you're coming home from the beach, a holiday weekend, or a nephew's wedding, do you ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation?

Why not go on a "staycation" and unwind in your own hometown? Take two days off before the hectic holidays come rolling in and go visit yourself in scenic right here!

As much as we look forward to vacations, a lot of times they're stressful. A staycation is relaxing, which will help reduce muscle tension, slow your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, alleviate anger and frustration, and give you more energy.

See the Sights

Most people never see the sites their town is famous for. Well, now's your chance. Dig out your camera and go to the top of that tall building, visit the world's largest or longest tourist spot, or take the riverboat on a sunset cruise. Buy some postcards and send them to your friends as if you're halfway across the world. Dine at that cute bistro you've always wanted to try.

Pack: a Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses, camera

Turn Off, Tune Out, and Drop In

Treat this trip to nowhere as if you've rented a cabin on top of a mountain and don't have access to any of life's little distractions. Lock your mobile phone in a drawer. Shut off the computer. Resist the urge to meet up with friends or go over to a relative's house. Make it about you, and try not to fill the calendar with social obligations. This is your staycation. Spend it however you like. Read a book. Sleep late. Go for a run. Watch an old movie. Call the cable company and open the door with a smile on your face when they show up six hours late. Organize that shoebox full of photos into an album. Give yourself permission to be selfish.

Visit: your yard, your porch, your couch

Are We Here Yet? Are We Here Yet?!?

More than a third of Americans don't use all of their vacation days. Sometimes it's because we have the time but not the means. With gas prices and airline tickets adding significant costs to a simple two-state jaunt, it makes sense to hunker down and enjoy what's at your fingertips. Retire the car completely and ride your bike or walk to the farmer's market. Buy what's in season and eat fresh, delicious produce the way Mother Nature intended.

Sightsee: local festivals, block parties, art openings

Slow Down, Catch Up

Enjoy the basics again. Cook a healthy breakfast and sit outside with a cup of tea as you watch your neighbors hurry off to work. Check off a few things around the house you've been meaning to get to. Walk around during the day and get a feel for what people do while you're usually at work. End every day with a nice hot bath and sink into nirvana.

Souvenirs: local sports team cap, touristy T-shirt

By distancing yourself from a hectic, demanding life, you'll feel better and handle the problems that do arise more effectively and rationally. The importance of a well-rested individual is paramount to attaining a healthy and stress-free lifestyle.

The Stay-at-Home Traveler:

Goes to the zoo
Visits the aquarium
Has a drink in a fancy hotel bar
Cheers on the local team
Rents a boat and skims the lake
Enjoys an old-fashioned, drive-in theater
Becomes inspired at an art museum
Finds a carnival
Watches the same day's sunrise and sunset
Splurges on a massage

The Spa Experience for Less

When was the last time you had any time to relax, much less a whole day?

Excess tension can take a real toll on our bodies. So dust off those slippers, put on your bathrobe, and treat yourself to a day at the spa without breaking the bank. It's amazing how a few simple at-home treatments will leave you refreshed and looking good.

A Fantastic Facial
Get a new outlook with a fresh face. To get smooth, healthy-looking skin, start by washing your face with a mild cleanser. Follow it up with a gentle facial scrub to exfoliate. Next, open pores by pouring hot (but not too hot) water into a bowl with a couple of herbal tea bags. Place your face over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to get a concentrated steam treatment. Afterward, apply your favorite face mask and complete your facial with a moisturizer.

Bubble Bath Bliss
A soothing soak in the tub can ease tired muscles, detoxify your skin, and clear your mind. Start by putting bubble bath, essential oils, or bath salts in warm water. During your bath, use a loofah to exfoliate dry skin and a pumice stone to smooth your feet. Put a conditioning treatment in your hair. Practice relaxation techniques. Sing out loud. Do whatever you like—the time is yours! When you're finished, dry off, apply a body moisturizer, and change into your favorite pair of pajamas.

Pamper with a Partner
Why not set aside some time to care for yourself with a friend or loved one? Throw a spa party and help your friends unwind and have fun, or create some relaxing bonding time by getting manicures with your daughter or sister. Turn on the hot water to create a steam room and get a good sweat going. You even can plan a romantic spa night at home with your significant other by taking turns giving each other back massages.

Want More Balance?

Get a free, personalized plan to help you eat well, stay active, and focus on feeling better. Visit StartMakingChoices.com to learn more.