- Instead of breading and frying, try grilling, roasting or broiling. High heat methods like these utilize a browning reaction that helps add flavor to the foods' surface.

Watch Portion Sizes

- Use visual cues to create a correctly proportioned meal. One meat serving should be about the size of a deck of cards. Side dishes should be the size of a small fist.

Measure Your Ingredients

- Measure each ingredient instead of eyeballing it to give you a sense of what a tablespoon or teaspoon actually looks like.

Make Healthy Substitutions

- Instead of butter, use olive oil, which is high in monounsaturated fats and may actually be beneficial for your heart. Substitute reduced-fat mayonnaise for regular mayonnaise in salads and slaw. To save calories and fat in classics like macaroni and cheese, switch to reduced-fat dairy products.