There’s no doubt that despite our best efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, every once in a while the craving for junk food is unbearable. From salty crunch to sugary sweet, fulfilling that junk food craving can take over, feeling like an absolute must with no alternative. If you’re on the path to your healthiest self, mixing in some nachos, pizza or an ice cream Sunday can easily throw you off track – leaving you yearning for a way to get back on track to feeling great. Finding healthy alternatives to fill those cravings can help keep you on course for the long haul. If the cravings are taking over and you just can’t stop, here’s a peek at 5 foods and their healthy alternatives to help steer you back on track, fast.
A slice of chocolate cake. Just like with anything else, you’re craving isn’t so much for chocolate cake, specifically – but for something sweet, rich and definitely chocolate-y. Try a steaming cup of hot cocoa with some creamy almond or coconut milk in place of heavy whole milk. You can even throw a marshmallow in there to make it feel like an extra special treat.
Fish and chips. OK, this is definitely a tough one because there’s nothing quite as delicious as a good plate of fish and chips, but how about ordering fish that’s grilled or broiled? Without a doubt, skip the fries and opt for a salad or a whole sweet potato instead. You’ll be just as satisfied, but energized rather than sluggish and weighed down.
Pizza. Now this is really a challenge – because who doesn’t love a huge slice of delicious, cheesy pizza? It’s like the ultimate treat. Pizza is pretty challenging to replicate and have it feel the same, so how about loading up on salad and fruit and then opting for a slice? Filling up on the good-for-you stuff first will help you eat a single slice of pizza rather than four. Don’t forget – everything in moderation is best.
A big delicious burrito. Again, some of these cravings are just too tough to resist from time to time – and if you have to have it, allow yourself a small portion rather than eating the whole thing and subsequently feeling terrible. In the case of a burrito, the craving is often simply for some good, traditional Mexican flavor – so how about opting for some lean chicken fajitas instead? Load up on the lettuce, tomato, salsa and good for you avocado in place of cheese and rice.
Deep-fried cheese sticks. These are tough because they are SO delicious – and sometime delicious melted cheese with a crunchy crust is pretty hard to resist, but let’s be honest: a deep fried cheese stick is definitely not going to make you feel too great after the fact. Consider going for veggie sticks and hummus or a yogurt-based dip instead. You’ll still get that great feeling of a snack-y food, but this is loaded with good for you-ness, unlike a fried stick of cheese. If it’s cheese you’re after, try a low-fat cheese stick instead.
What do you think? Would some of these healthy alternatives work for you?
