Trying to be healthy isn’t easy for everyone. If you’re used to eating whatever you want, whenever you want, learning how to make more informed decisions can be difficult. Some of your favorite dishes include ingredients and additives that do more harm than good to the body. As great as sugary, salty, or processed foods might taste, it’s terrible for your physical and mental well-being. Yet, letting go of these guilty pleasures is often another hurdle.
The idea of giving up a potato chip for a celery stick just doesn’t seem to add up. Try as you may, your body longs for the salty taste and you eventually revert back. So, how do you make it stop? Though you’ll have to train your mind and body to prefer healthy foods, there are some easy ways to adjust. You can start by finding healthy alternatives to the foods you crave the most.
Protein Bars Instead of Candy Bars
Enjoy picking up a chocolate candy bar on occasion? The combination of milk chocolate, salty nuts, and sweet caramel is something not many can resist. If you find yourself unable to avoid those bars at the checkout line, perhaps you need an alternative. Protein bars can be a healthy choice. Packed with granola, nuts, seeds, and fruit and drizzled in honey or other natural sugars, they are a tasty treat. Some, even have dark chocolate to give you a bit more sweetness.
Veggie Noodles Instead of Pasta
Lots of people have a weakness when it comes to pasta. Spaghetti, baked ziti, shrimp alfredo, they all taste so great going down. The only problem is it’s packed with carbs which break down into sugar. This increases your insulin levels which can cause problems with your weight as well. A great alternative would be to swap out those traditional pasta noodles with veggie noodles. You can find them premade in stores or make your own at home. Try zucchini, squash, and sweet potato pasta for a delicious and healthier alternative to your favorite Italian dishes.
Cauliflower or Wheat Dough Instead of Pizza Dough
Who doesn’t enjoy a slice of pizza here and there? It’s a great dish to eat for lunch or dinner. Add some toppings to it and you’re in for a real treat. The only issue is pizza dough is also comprised of carbs which, as discussed earlier are bad for your health. Instead of giving up your favorite dish, you can make your own pizza at home. Using wheat flour or cauliflower as the crust, you can load the pie up with fruits and veggies as toppings and enjoy. Who knows, you may even find a pizza shop that serves wheat pizza for days you want to enjoy a slice outside of the home.
Giving up some of your favorite foods can be difficult, especially when you believe the alternative is tasteless, healthy, junk. Quite the contrary there are a ton of foods out there that taste great that can help to pacify those cravings you sometimes have. It’s okay to indulge in your guilty pleasures on occasion, but if you’re really trying to make a change, try looking for healthy alternatives so you can continue fueling your body with the good stuff it needs to sustain a long and prosperous life.
