Easy ways to slash up to 500 calories from your day

Losing weight often feels like an uphill battle. Counting calories is hard (and imperfect) work, declining dessert can make you feel like a bore, and packing your own meals requires time and investment.

Thankfully, there are a few easy tweaks to your daily diet that registered dietitians and nutritionists say can help you meet your healthy eating goals. While cutting calories shouldn't be the sole focus of a healthy diet plan, it can be a good starting point for weight loss.

With that in mind, all of the swaps listed here are healthier options overall - not just because they are lower in calories, but also because they contain less sugar or more protein.