When it comes to healthy living one of my main philosophies is that I don’t believe in diets or quick fixes. I believe in learning how to make healthy choices everyday that lead to living a healthy lifestyle.
Once you know what those healthy choices are you’re free! No more counting calories, or depriving yourself of food. You can eat healthy, fresh, delicious food for all your meals & snacks, and feel satisfied (you’ll probably start to notice some other positive results as well: clear skin, weight loss, healthy digestion, increased energy, etc.).
To get you started here are 10 healthy substitutes for your next recipe:
1. Plain Greek Yogurt vs. Sour Cream: Greek yogurt is high in protein, low in fat & calories, and a great source of pro-biotics or healthy bacteria, which is amazing for proper digestion. Use Greek yogurt in fajitas, dips, or sauces.
2. Banana vs. Egg: this is a great way to add moisture & natural sweetness to your recipes and keep it vegan-friendly. If you do bake with eggs make sure you buy organic or the kind that says their feed is free-from anti-biotics & hormones.
3. Avocado vs. Mayo: avocado has a creamy texture making it the perfect substitute for mayo. AND, it’s a major superfood. It’s a source of healthy fats, and protein. Eating avocado is amazing for proper digestion, and healthy, glowing skin.
4. Unsweetened Almond Milk vs. Cow’s Milk: almond milk is a great source of calcium & vitamin E (antioxidant!) and it’s lower in calories & sugar than regular milk. Dairy is one of the most common allergens out there. If you constantly have a runny nose, skin issues or feel sick after consuming dairy you probably have a sensitivity to it, and should consider switching to almond milk (Silk is a good brand). Use almond milk like you would regular milk in any recipe.
5. Coconut Sugar vs. White & Brown Sugar: coconut sugar is all-natural, and a source of vitamins & minerals (non-refined). It’s one of the few sugars out there that doesn’t spike your blood sugar, which means it’s not addictive and won’t get stored as fat like regular sugar. It’s also safe for diabetics!
6. Spaghetti Squash vs. Pasta: spaghetti squash has the look & texture of noodles, but it’s low in calories and full of nutrients. It’s a great source of beta-carotene, fiber, and is naturally gluten-free. Squash is in season right now – give it a try!
7. Mashed Cauliflower vs. Mashed Potatoes: mashed cauliflower looks exactly liked mashed potatoes, but is low-carb & low-calorie, and still tastes great. It’s also in the brassica family of vegetables, which means it’s cancer fighting! Click here to check out a great recipe for cauliflower crust pizza!
8. Quinoa vs. White Rice: like rice, quinoa is gluten-free, but unlike rice it’s high in protein and nutrients. Also, quinoa is a seed not a grain so it won’t spike your blood sugar like white rice.
9. Natural Peanut Butter vs. Sugary Hydrogenated Oil Peanut Butter: if you haven’t already, you must make the switch to natural peanut butter. It has no sodium, sugar or hydrogenated vegetable oil. It’s just ground peanuts. I love products that only have one ingredient, that way you know there’s no crap in it!
10. Vegetarian Protein (whole grains + legumes) vs. Meat Protein: Too much meat can be hard on our digestive systems, and we all know that proper digestion is the key to health. The next you’re making something that calls for meat, ie: chili, try combining legumes (chick peas, black beans, etc.) with a whole grain (brown rice pasta) instead. The combination equals a complete protein.
Cheers to healthy choices & healthy living!
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