If squeezing your flesh into a bikini in three months' time makes you run screaming like a teen starlet in a shock horror film, fear not. You actually don't have to diet drastically to make yourself summer-ready...by swapping some of your favourite foods for healthier, reduced-fat versions, you can save kilojoules and precious time. What's more, you'll be making healthier, portion-appropriate choices.
1. Portion control
Instead of liberally sprinkling cheese on pasta or salad, opt for one tablespoon of good-quality parmesan. By choosing a richer cheese, you'll feel fuller more quickly, but you'll save on kilojoules.
2. Muffin top alert
Instead of eating blueberry muffins (which are, by the way, basically cake) eat blueberries. They're rich in antioxidants, which help fight against disease, and obviously they're far, far lower in fat!
3. Dairy queen
It sounds like a no-brainer, but a lot of people still choose full-fat milk over skim. You'll still get all your calcium requirements from skim milk - and you'll save around 504 kilojoules per serve.
4. Choc attack
Chowing down on chocolate is one of life's little luxuries, so we'd never ask you to give it up! Instead, go for dark chocolate instead of milk or white. Dark chocolate can reduce "bad" LDL cholestorol and even help with heart pressure (not just broken hearts!)
5. No more breads!
Ditch greasy banana bread for wholegrain toast topped with sliced banana and a squeeze of honey. Just as tasty (OK, OK, not quite...) and minus 1092 kilojoules. Nice work.
6. Dip it
Instead of buying fattening dips like ranch and french onion, make your own heart-healthy dips like hummus. All you need is a can of chickpeas and some olive oil. Hummus is a great alternative to rich, creamy dips and is just as tasty (promise, really).
PLUS: How to get toned in just ten minutes a day!