In an earlier post, I talked about “winter-proofing” yourself so you can avoid that dreaded winter weight gain. Today, I want to share another idea for staying slim over the months to come: Make some easy food swaps, starting right now. Food swaps are great because you’re not giving up anything; instead, you’re simply replacing a bad food with a better one. That’s smart and painless! And my swaps, in addition to keeping those extra pounds off, will make you healthier and help to erase your wrinkles. Here they are.

Swap out breakfast cereal for grain-free granola.

How cereal ever got a reputation as a healthy food is beyond me. It’s loaded with carbs (and often with sugar), so it jacks up your insulin levels and lays down fat on your belly. Ugh. Want a healthier option? Instead of reaching for that cereal box, indulge in grain-free granola. It’s sweet, crunchy, and delicious, and it loads you up with nutrients rather than carbs. You can buy grain-free granola online or in any health food store, and it’s easy to mix some up yourself.

Swap out candy bars for 70% dark chocolate.

Chocolate is delicious—and better yet, it’s good for you! Unfortunately, all that stuff that manufacturers add to the chocolate in candy bars isn’t so good for you. The solution: Get back to basics by choosing chocolate bars that have a cacao content of at least 70%. You’ll get maximum nutritional power and only a small amount of sugar.

Swap out unhealthy chips for kale chips and SeaSnax.

Football season is here, and what’s more fun than sitting on the sofa eating crunchy snacks while you cheer on your favorite team? But loading up on potato chips, corn chips, and cheese puffs will pack pounds on you—and that’s nothing to cheer about. To get the same crunch without the unhappy consequences, toss out the junk. Instead, bake up a pan of kale chips or nibble on nutrient-packed SeaSnax.

Swap out dairy ice cream for coconut milk ice cream.

If you know me, you know that I’m not a fan of dairy foods. That’s because they can cause inflammation, digestive problems, and skin breakouts. However, I’m a huge fan of coconut milk, which is loaded with fat-melting, skin-smoothing power. What’s more, coconut milk ice cream is every bit as delicious as the dairy version. You can find coconut milk ice cream just about anywhere these days, and it’s also easy to make. Try this Espresso Gelato with Chocolate Chips--it's one of my favorites.

Swap out artificial maple syrup for true maple syrup.

When it comes to maple syrup, that brand-name stuff in the store is far from the real thing. Basically, it’s flavored high-fructose corn syrup, and it’s one of the worst things you can put in your body. Instead, spend a little extra money and get real maple syrup. It tastes better, it has a lower glycemic index (meaning that it will raise your blood sugar less), and it contains a wealth of trace nutrients that help rev up your metabolism and detoxify your body.

Swap out pasta for spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.

This is one of the tastiest and healthiest swaps you can make. Instead of loading your body with fattening pasta, you’ll be feeding it delicious, fiber-rich veggies that make your cells glow. It’s an easy swap to make, too—and if you have kids, they’ll love making “zoodles” or scooping out the strands from the squash.

Swap out that sugary pumpkin spice latte at the coffee shop for a homemade version.

Fall is the time for pumpkins and warm, aromatic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and those warm, creamy pumpkin spice lattes—that we feel guilty for drinking. Want to enjoy these lovely fall flavors without the guilt? Then instead of buying a pumpkin spice latte with 44 grams of sugars!--make this rich, satisfying, and delicious latte at home with just 3 grams of sugar—and melt off pounds off rather than putting them on.

Pumpkin Pie Latte

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces black coffee
• 2 Tablespoons coconut cream or coconut milk
• 2 Tablespoons canned pumpkin
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground clove
• Stevia to taste

Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

Optional: You can swap the vanilla extract and stevia for a scoop of Vanilla Bone Broth Protein to up the protein factor!

Swap out unhealthy cocktail mixers for bone broth and fruit.

Do bone broth cocktails sound downright weird to you? Then you haven’t tried them yet! In reality, they’re delicious, especially when you add luscious fresh fruit. And they’re loaded with fat-melting, skin-smoothing power—unlike those mixers, which are filled with sugar and artificial junk. For fun cocktail recipes, check out my free Cocktail Recipes eBook.

These eight swaps are simple to make, and you’ll get big rewards: a slimmer waist, fewer wrinkles, and better health from head to toe. Better yet, you’ll do it while enjoying everything from ice cream to chocolate to cocktails. Now, that’s what I call painless!

Keep thinking Big and living BOLD!