5 Healthier Alternatives to Common Foods and Beverage

Designing a healthy meal plan can seem challenging and restrictive at first, but once you get used to the list of foods that you can and can't have, sticking to a set diet gets a little easier. You don't necessarily need to take all of your favorite foods off the menu, but you may need to find substitutes for a few of them. Fortunately, almost every food item you can name has an organic, low-calorie, or diet-friendly alternative nowadays, so finding new favorites shouldn't be too difficult. More specifically, here are five quick and easy substitutions you can make in your kitchen to facilitate healthier eating:

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1. Olive Oil Instead of Butter

While both olive oil and butter are comprised of 100% fat, butter has more saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, making it less healthy. Plus, there are plenty of high-quality extra virgin olive oils to choose from, such as GringoCool, so you should have no problem finding a tasty replacement for your favorite butter brand.

2. Almond Milk Instead of Cow's Milk

Almond milk has a similar taste and consistency to cow's milk but it contains fewer calories and is easier for the body to digest than dairy. If you're trying to lose weight or cut down on dairy to improve your overall well-being, almond milk is one of the healthiest substitutes you'll find. However, be careful not to buy sweetened almond milk as it's arguably less healthy than cow's milk due to the high sugar content. Also, try to avoid almond milk that contains carrageenan.

3. Turkey Bacon Instead of Bacon

Turkey bacon has lower fat content than pork bacon and it contains fewer calories and less sodium, making it a better option if you're weight watching or trying to keep your blood pressure under control. Believe it or not, turkey bacon tastes very similar to regular bacon and does just fine alongside a plate of eggs.

4. Frozen Yogurt Instead of Ice Cream

Frozen yogurt contains fewer calories than traditional ice cream yet retains the same cool, creamy texture. You would have to buy low-fat ice cream to match the calorie count of standard frozen yogurt, and the low-fat ice cream would be significantly less creamy. While one isn't inherently healthier than the other, if weight loss is one of your diet goals, then frozen yogurt would be the better choice.

5. Sweet Potato Wedges Instead of French Fries

It's no secret that French fries provide very little nutritional value due to the fact that they're made from regular potatoes. Sweet potato wedges, on the other hand, are wonderfully nutritious thanks to a high presence of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and other essential nutrients.

A Few Small Changes Is All It Takes

As you can see, even with only a handful of alternatives, you can still enjoy the general goodness of your favorite foods with just a few slight adjustments. You could probably fill an entire book with similar substitutions for common foods, but the above five are probably some of the most delicious and doable changes for most people.


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