5 Healthy Food Alternatives For Your Favorite Junk Food
Sometimes having the willpower to buy healthy food over your favorite bag of chips or sweets can be hard. Luckily there are actually plenty of alternatives to make the switch seamlessly. This list of healthy foods can be easily incorporated into your everyday diet, satisfying both your body’s needs, as well as your guilty pleasures. Check them out!
1. Baked cinnamon apple slices w/ granola
Fall is just around the corner and I’m sure you’re going to be craving some pie, especially apple (or pumpkin, yum). A great alternative is cinnamon baked apple slices, with some granola sprinkled on top. First, start by preheating your oven to 350F, then slice your apples. Then whisk together some water, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Once whisked, pour over the apple slices, and place on a baking sheet. The apples should only take about 15 minutes to bake until tender. Once finished, sprinkle some granola over top, and you have a great apple pie alternative, without all the fatty, sugary dough!
2. Greek yogurt w/ fruit and graham cracker crumbs
If you’re a cheesecake lover (aren’t we all), this one is for you and it is SUPER easy. First just get your favorite greek yogurt flavor, jam-packed with protein, and place in a cup or bowl. Then whip together a type of fruit jam or your favorite fresh fruit and place in the bowl. Finish it off by adding some graham cracker crumbs for that signature cheesecake flavor and bon appetite! This alternative gets rid of all the excess sugar in the processed fruit and the fatty dough that comes along with it.
3. Baked sweet potato fries
Fries will be the death of us. So salty, delicious, and addictive. Luckily, there are many ways to satisfy this craving without heading over to your nearest McDonalds! Sweet potato fries are a godsend when baked correctly. You can get all the crunch, and tastiness without all that grease and salt. Simply preheat the oven to 450F and cut up a sweet potato into wedges. Once the oven is preheated, pour some olive oil over the wedges, lightly salt with some sea-salt, and bake for 20 minutes, flipping once or twice. Absolutely delicious, and can be paired with most dinners!
4. Dark chocolate
Regular old milk chocolate is extremely high in sugar and fat. That being said, it is very tasty. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, can still do the trick! If you find nice dark chocolate made with at least 70% cocoa, you’re on the right track. It is much lower in sugar and fat while providing an abundance of fiber and antioxidants! It is still chocolate though, so don’t get carried away! Sprinkle some on to other healthy treats we’ve gon over so far, such as adding some into your greek yogurt cheesecake alternative or even put some on the cinnamon apples. Enjoy in moderation.
5. Kale Chips
Kale chips are an extremely healthy food to replace those fried chips you can’t stop reaching for. If cooked correctly, they can be crispy, a little salty, and addictive as well, but healthy! First, preheat the oven to 275F, and lay your kale pieces onto a baking sheet. Pour some olive oil over the kale, and sprinkle sea-salt for some flavor. Cook the batch for about 20 minutes, turning halfway through, and the kale should come out as crispy chips to munch on. You can pair this with a meal, but these bad boys make for a great quick snack if you’re looking for something to much on right away.
