When it comes to being healthy, losing weight and generally getting fitter, you need to consider how many calories you are consuming every day. Eating and drinking too many calories can mean that you put on weight and have to work out harder in order to make up for it.

Luckily, there are small things you can do every day that help to reduce how many calories you consume, which can really help your health. This will make it easier to lose or maintain weight.

However, it’s important not to reduce your calorie intake too much, as this could leave you feeling lethargic and unmotivated. Here are a few small changes that you can make to cut down your daily calories in healthy and manageable ways:

Go skinny

So many foods and drinks we consume regularly can be bought in skinnier versions. This means you can enjoy your favourite things but in a healthier way.

Simply swapping your standard foods and drinks — such as milk, cheese and yoghurts — for low-fat and low-sugar alternatives can make a big difference.

Opting for skimmed milk instead of semi-skimmed and reduced fat cheese ensures you still get to enjoy your usual snacks and drinks but with fewer calories, so you don’t need to give up the things you love.

Swap your plates

Switching the plates you eat off of for smaller ones can mean that you eat smaller meals while still feeling full.

Simply serving smaller portions on your usual plates can leave you feeling like you haven’t had a proper meal as your brain sees that the plate isn’t totally full. This can mean you end up reaching for snacks and unhealthy treats throughout the day, increasing your calorie intake.

Eating off smaller plates will make it look like you’ve got a full portion, ensuring you feel fuller for longer — or at least tricking your brain into thinking you’re full.

Skip the fancy coffee

It’s so easy to grab a coffee on the go and to order that extra shot of syrup or squirt of whipped cream from your barista. However, these all soon add up and increase your daily calorie intake quite a lot.

Rather than being tempted to pick up your favourite sugary and fatty coffee drink on the way into the office, make your coffee at home using skimmed milk. Not only will this be kinder on your bank balance, you’ll soon find it’s much easier to lose weight.

Fewer carbs

Carbohydrates are one of the easiest ways to consume more calories in a day. Things like pasta and potatoes may be tasty but they are also calorie-laden, especially as we eat more of them than we need to per portion.

Reduce the amount of pasta, potatoes and other carbohydrates you eat and swap them for healthier alternatives. Eating things like courgette, carrots, sweet potatoes and parsnips will give you similar textures but much fewer calories.