Healthy Junk Food Substitutions that Actually Taste Good

When you want a treat, do you crave sweet treats or salty treats?  So often when those cravings hit us, we resort to not so healthy options. So, here are a few healthier options you could use to “trick” those cravings.

Salt Cravings

• Microwave Popcorn àAir pop popcorn then sprinkle with herbs like oregano, rosemary, thyme and sage, or lemon pepper. 

• French Fries –> Roasted sweet potato wedges. Peel and slice sweet potatoes, brush with some olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and roast at 400°.

• Peanuts –> Rosemary Garlic Almonds (recipe)

• Chips –> Zucchini chips (recipe)

Sweet Cravings 

• Candy –> Homemade dried fruit or frozen grapes

• Chocolate –> Real dark Chocolate.  To make sure you’re still getting heart-healthy flavonoids from your chocolate, buy organic or milk-free dark chocolates that are high in cocoa content and free of additives. Many of those name brand chocolate bars substitute vegetable oil for real cocoa, not what you want. 

• Cake –> Banana Muffins(recipe)

• Ice Cream –> Chunky Monkey Ice cream (recipe)

• Cookies –> Apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon or homemade no-bake granola bars (recipe)