15 Healthy Alternatives To Junk Food
Eating right is not only about losing weight, but it’s about feeling better and being healthier. Many people try to eat well, but can’t always stop themselves from fulfilling certain cravings that pop up throughout the day. Here are 15 healthy alternatives to junk food, for when you’re craving that one food that you know you shouldn’t eat, but you can’t resist.
1. Chocolate Avocado Banana Bread
We all love a good piece of warm chocolate cake. Rather than going to the store and buying a premade cake, however, put those cooking skills of yours to work and make your own chocolate avocado banana bread to satisfy the craving.
2. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Chinese food is never a bad idea; however, it can often be very salty and high in fat. Rather than ordering in traditional fried rice, find a cauliflower fried rice recipe for a healthier, yet just as delicious, meal. You can also add in some chicken to have a protein. You seriously won’t notice the difference. This could be one of the most discrete healthy alternatives to junk food
3. Chick Pea Pasta
Pasta is always a quick and easy meal, and can now be healthy too! Banza makes all different types of pasta using chick pea paste which replaces the high amount of carbs often found in pasta.
4. Buddha Bowls
Chipotle is just one of the many necessary evils in life. However, one meal often exceeds the number of calories you are supposed to take in throughout the whole day. Beat your chipotle craving by creating your own meal using a Buddha bowl recipe.
5. Kale Chips
It’s inevitable to crave chips occasionally. While many brands are coming out with baked or kettle chips which are healthier than the traditional potato chip, fulfil the craving by making (or buying) your own baked kale chips. Both tasty and crunchy, kale chips are definitely the way to go.
6. Quinoa
Rice is a side dish that goes well with all different types of meals. However, next time you’re preparing dinner, consider making quinoa as an alternative to rice, giving you more protein and a healthier option.
7. Baked Veggie Hash Browns
I think we can all agree that the best way to start your day off is with a good breakfast. Veggie hash browns are delicious and go great with eggs, an essential key to a good breakfast.
8. Carrots and Hummus
Everyone needs an afternoon snack once in a while. Nothing beats a fresh, quick, and healthy vegetable and dip combo.
9. Greek Yogurt Blueberry Pancakes
Breakfast is known to be the most important meal of the day, and what better way to start it off than with pancakes? While most pancakes are made using traditional pancake mix and add-ins of your choice, why not mix it up and use a Greek yogurt base, adding in protein as well as all the nutritional value that yogurt contains.
10. Oatmeal and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
No one can pass up a good dessert, especially warm chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk. However, chocolate chip cookies can often be loaded with sugar and carbs that are unnecessary right after eating dinner. To make a more health-conscious dessert decision, try finding a homemade recipe for oatmeal and dark chocolate chip cookies instead.
11. Artichoke Spinach Dip
Everyone loves a good dip. Rather than the traditional ranch dressing or guacamole, make yours healthier (and tastier) with an artichoke spinach dip. Substituting in low fat cream cheese works as well to lower the amount of saturated fat.
12. Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
We’ve all experienced those times when we need to bake something for a bake sale, or bring a dessert to someone’s house. You can never go wrong with bringing cupcakes, but instead of making chocolate cupcakes or birthday cake which usually contains a lot of sugar and calories, instead try making carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting to brighten up the meal and bring along a healthy alternative.
13. Avocado on Whole Wheat Toast
Avocado is like a food group within itself, going well with almost every food. It contains a lot of healthy fats as well as many health benefits. Rather than making a sandwich which can contain many unnecessary calories, try avocado on whole wheat toast to satisfy that craving for a bread-y meal.
14. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is an easy and delicious food that can be eaten at almost any time of the day. Rather than making mac and cheese from a box, though, try making it fresh with butternut squash as an alternative to the highly saturated cheese and salt that comes with most mac and cheese. This is one of my favorite healthy alternatives to junk food.
15. Cauliflower Pizza
Nothing beats a good slice of pizza. however most pizza is often unhealthy. Using cauliflower as a base for the pizza is a good way to cut out most of those carbs from the crust, and tastes very similar to a regular slice.
