mmmm, delicious

now that I’m back from vacation, it’s time to *yikes* D-I-E-T. dieting is the worst for someone like me who loves fast food, candy, and bacon. but as I sit here, munching on special k, I thought I would share some insight with you, like how I eat a diet frozen lunch almost every single day. these little 5 “helpers” make it all so much better:

1. sriracha – not only is The Oatmeal obsessed with this asian fire sauce, I am too. I put this on sandwiches, vegetables, pizzas, ANYTHING. but in reality, any kind of hot sauce will do. it adds flavors without adding many calories. hot sauce also boosts your metabolism, allowing you to burn calories faster. double win.

2. ranch dressing – (sidenote: I MEAN LIGHT RANCH OR FAT FREE) ranch adds that creamy texture that’s usually missing on those rather plain dishes. I find that ranch works best with quesadillas or paninis. it’s also my favorite condiment for a plain turkey or veggie burger.

3. frank’s red hot chili sauce – this is my secret for marinading everything from steak to shrimp. granted it has a few more calories than the rest, so use wisely. but this sauce literally goes with everything: stir it into pasta, dip your sandwich in it, pour it over your meats and veggies. and don’t be fooled, it barely has any spice at all.

4. grey poupon mustard – mustard is one of the most diet-friendly items out there. it’s literally made out of vinegar and seeds. but grey poupon goes that extra mile and gives that extra kick we all need to jump start those frozen entrees. try it with flat bread sandwiches or even dunk your steak into it.

5. I can’t believe it’s not butter! spray – omg, I would spray this sh*t on everything if I could. it’s like no calories per spritz and who honestly doesn’t like the taste of butter? it’s great to spray on breads and veggies and even a little into the creamy sauces of pasta to give it that extra pow! of flavor. it makes it seem like you’re almost eating full calories.