Healthy Food Swaps: What to Eat When Those Cravings Hit

Everyone gets cravings from time to time. That’s what it means to be human. But if you’re consciously trying to make better choices, how can you be sure these little temptations don’t get the better of you?  

When cravings strike, it’s helpful to have a plan of attack. Here are some healthier choices for when you want to slip back into bad eating habits …

The Most Important Meal of the Day: Switch-Out Foods for Breakfast

Put down that doughnut and reach for something healthier instead!

Craving that sugary cereal you loved as a kid? Try a bowl of cooked steel-cut oatmeal as a healthy substitute. You can top it with cinnamon, honey, fruit, or nuts. You’ll cut way down on the sugar, and you’ll feel full longer.

We realize that eggs aren’t everyone’s choice, but egg whites do provide protein that our body needs. Have you tried pairing an egg with avocado and whole wheat toast? Or scrambling it with some fresh veggies? There are several ways to make eggs healthy, without piling on the meat, cheese, and potatoes that can make you feel too full in the morning.

For breakfast on the go, we recommend a healthy smoothie. There are plenty of smoothie recipes out there that will help you get the nutrients you need for the day.

Craving Something Sweet? Eat This Instead!

Frozen bananas are a great substitute for ice cream. Place them in a blender and blend until smooth. Frozen yogurt can also be a great substitute, but watch for added sugar! We recommend topping Greek yogurt with nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips instead.

Speaking of bananas, we also love them frozen, dipped in chocolate, and then dipped in nuts. Now, that’s a treat you can feel good about!

What about the little things, like creamer in your coffee or frosting on your cake? You can cut back on sugar simply by swapping coconut milk for creamer and whipped cream for frosting. Every little bit helps!

Instead of using sugar in recipes, try using honey or one of the artificial sweeteners on the market.

If you’re a pastry lover, or if you crave cakes and cookies, life can be hard on a healthy eating plan. Protein no-bake bites can give you that chocolate or sweet dough fix without making you feel guilty.  

Carb Substitutions that Won’t Add to Your Bloat or Weigh on Your Conscience.

Who doesn’t love pasta? Unfortunately, pasta is a mega-carb and a big no-no for gluten-free dieters. Try replacing your pasta with spaghetti squash or spiralized zucchini. You can even find it premade and frozen in many grocery stores. If you don’t love zucchini or squash, choose whole wheat pasta over white pasta for healthier Italian.

Rice is delicious with Asian dishes, but white rice and fried rice can add sugar and carbs your body doesn’t need. Substitute brown rice or, if you want to really get out of your comfort zone, try quinoa or barley – much healthier choices!

Mashed potatoes and rice can be replaced with cauliflower mash or cauliflower rice. There are several recipes available online, or you can find cauliflower (or broccoli) rice in your local supermarket.

French fries are a weakness for many of us. This one’s easy. Simply swap out those fattening fried potatoes with baked sweet potatoes. They’re just as delicious!

Tacos and tortillas are a must for Mexican food and wraps, right? Actually, they don’t have to be. Substitute a large leaf of romaine or iceberg lettuce to cradle meat and cheese. You’ll be surprised at how much you don’t miss that carb-heavy tortilla wrap. The food tastes just as good.

Bread … a weakness for so many of us. And it’s everywhere! From hamburger buns to pizza crusts, it seems it’s so hard to avoid high-sugar, high-carb white bread products. Luckily, there are lots alternatives: Try a cauliflower crust pizza, for example. Get rid of the hamburger bun and wrap your bacon cheeseburger in lettuce. Or try bread substitutes like cloud bread. If you get a little creative, you’ll realize you don’t need bread that much after all.

If You’re Ready to Make a Change, Cooking Healthy Academy is Ready to Welcome You

It’s difficult to make the kind of lifestyle change that really sticks. Sometimes it takes baby steps – two steps forward, one step back – before we’re fully ready to embrace a new way of eating.

If you’re ready to transform your relationship with food, contact us at Cooking Healthy Academy. We have services available that can support and empower you, every step of the way.