Credit to image used in pin goes to Jason Lam, Marco Verch, and Amazing Almond. – Changes were made to the original image.
You’ve said it before and you’ll say it again: you need to eat healthily and avoid high-calorie food. But it can be so easy to fall back into bad habits and cravings. And though it might feel practically impossible to ditch all the junk food in your diet, there are still some great ways to sub in healthy dishes and snacks.
And down below are some great food substitutes for your favorites meals that won’t make you feel like you’re depriving yourself. They’ll help you stick to your diet without giving up on flavor. So check out how you can use them and let me know what you think!
Cows Milk to Almond Milk
Almond milk and cow’s milk are both packed with nutrients, but almond milk is much better when it comes to calorie cutting. Made from ground almonds and filtered water, almond milk has the lowest calories compared to other variants. It provides vitamin A and D and is great for people who are lactose intolerant. Add it to your smoothies, froth it in your coffee, or vegan hot chocolate. You’ll never know the difference!
French Fries to Baked Sweet Potato Fries
I think you can agree with me that french fries are hard to resist. They smell so good and taste even better. Whether you’re eating it as a side dish or on its own, it’s always fun to get. But did you know that ditching fries can benefit your health and money as well?
Substitute it with baked sweet potato fries; they’re healthier and taste so much better (sweet and salty anyone?). Sweet potatoes are super healthy and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They’re also easy to make at home. Just brush the sweet potato wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and pop them in the oven to roast.
Pasta Noodles to Zoodles
Skip the high carb pasta noodles and try zoodles for a guilt-free pasta dish. These spaghetti-like veggies are low in calories, carbs, and contain no flour at all. You can make them with a Spiralizer, using zucchini, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and even carrots.
Just skip the boiling and simply sauté for a few minutes until soft. They’re rich in nutrients and help full-fill your veggie quota for the day. They also taste great and don’t require much cooking time.
White Sugar to Coconut Sugar
It’s no surprise that sugar negatively affects your health. And refined white sugars is definitely the worst. It doesn’t contain any vital nutrients and helps you gain weight.
So instead of using white sugar, try coconut sugar which is so much better for you. Unlike white sugar, a little coconut goes a long way. It’s better for your metabolism and has plenty of nutrients. So put them in your baked goods, tea and coffee, and you’ll start to feel a lot better.
Potato Chips to Popcorn
Another irresistible food that we’re all guilty of eating is potato chips. They’re high in sodium, saturated fats, and deep-fried. But thankfully popcorn can be just as tasty, but low in calories. Made from whole grain corn, they’re high in fiber and a very light snack.
If you’re having a salty craving, try having popcorn (just skip the pre-buttered bags of popcorn). You can also add spices like cinnamon, chili powder, or parmesan. Get creative and have fun with your flavors!
Chocolates to Cacao Nibs
Basically, cacao nibs are bits of fermented, dried, roasted and crushed cacao beans. They’re extremely good for you, and have an intense chocolatey taste, but aren’t sweet at all. Compared to chocolates, they have a crunchy yet tender texture that bursts with flavor.
They can be put on or in desserts, savory dishes, and drinks. These chocolate bits are very versatile and super healthy.
Sour Cream to Greek Yogurt
Looking for a healthier alternative to sour cream, then definitely try greek yogurt. Though both condiments have similarities in both taste and texture, sour cream has significantly fewer nutrients and more fat than a 1 cup serving of Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt also contains probiotics, which are live bacteria that support the healthy bacteria in your intestinal tract and may help treat some digestive disorders. This substitute can be great to add to your baked potato or dips.
Ice Cream to Fruit Smoothie
Ditch the sugar-packed ice cream for a smoothie that seriously tastes good. Choose your favorite fruits, add some greens, yogurt, honey, ice, non-dairy liquid and blend them until it reaches the right consistency.
You can also make the mixture in advance by putting them all in a ziplock and freezing them. Whether you want it for breakfast or a quick snack, take them out and blend. They’re super healthy, dairy-free and easy to make recipes that’ll benefit your health and time as well.
Mashed Potato to Mashed Cauliflower
Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? This soft and fluffy side dish goes with pretty much anything and it tastes delicious. But if you’re looking for a healthier option, white potatoes aren’t so great. So try swapping it in for mashed cauliflower to get a lower fat, lower carb version. You can use your favorite mashed potato recipe and simply switch out the potatoes. Use almond milk for dairy free creaminess and Himalayan salt for taste.
Ordered Pizza to Home Made Pizza
Homemade pizza is an excellent alternative to delivery. And while it might be easy, homemade will always be better for you. You can personalize your pizza from the sauce to the toppings and it’ll always be served cheesy and hot.
Use whole-wheat pizza dough, a lot of veggies, and low-fat cheese. With these ingredients, your favorite food will taste great, and have plenty of fiber, antioxidants, and lean protein.
You can also prepare them ahead of time and enjoy later. You’ll save time, money and of your course your health by doing this.
Who says being on diet means eating boring and tasteless meals when you can have tasty alternatives instead? And these ideas will help you lose weight while still eating well. So pick any of these substitutes to make your next meal delicious and healthier.
Now if you have any questions about these ideas, let me know in the comments down below! I’d love to help you out!
