It’s a new year and many people are eager to start their diet off on the right foot, perhaps lose a few pounds, eat better and make better food choices overall. Here’s a list of great, healthy food alternatives to your usual choices that will help you keep your New Year’s resolutions. They are low in fat, calories but high in flavor!
Love chocolate milk but not so fond of the stomach pain and gas that follows? There’s a new healthy option available and it’s not soy! As a lactose intolerant woman, I usually drink soy and rice milk, but my latest choice is amazing, especially in chocolate and it’s almond milk! It has such a clean taste and you would swear you were drinking the real thing! You might want to check out the healthy/organic or dairy case at your grocer. They also offer a shelved brand, but the refrigerated kind is best. This delicious treat comes from the makers of Nuts, Blue Diamond Natural Almond Breeze. Even if you’re not lactose intolerant, it only has 120 calories and has less fat than soy. So drink up!
Do your kids love grilled cheese sandwiches but avoid them because of lactose? A great alternative to cheese slices are the ‘veggie slices’ found in the dairy case and/or the vegetarian section of the produce area. They offer flavors like Cheddar, Mozzarella, American, Jalapeño, Smoked Provolone and best of all, they are low calorie, cholesterol free and have 0 grams of trans fat! The Veggie Slice brand offers “cheese” shredded as well as regular bricks and they’re all scrumptious, you’d swear they were dairy!
Avocados are a great delicacy and when you want to make some guacamole or just put a few slices on your salad it’s nice to know there is a low-fat option. A large avocado that has been trademarked as a “Slimcado” lets you eat this amazing fruit (that’s right, in case you didn’t know, avocado is actually a fruit!) without piling on the calories. It’s still as meaty as a regular avocado, but has a slightly higher water content, so it’s best used in guacamole. These are about 3 times the regular size and a little can go a long way.
Packaged fruits and vegetables, if you’re not careful with your selection, can add up to a lot of syrup, sugar, and salt! This isn’t great if you’re looking to make healthy choices. You have options though! Fresh is always best if you can get it and if it is affordable, the next best is frozen as it has been proven to have all the nutrients fresh, and last would be canned. With the economy pushing grocery prices to record highs over the past few years, more people are turning to packaged goods. Look at the label and make sure it doesn’t have any added salt or sugar. When looking at ingredients, you’ll want to avoid anything that contains syrup, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, or added sweeteners. These add unwanted sodium and calories that are not needed. If you can’t get by without these ingredients, make sure to squeeze out the juice and wash the ingredients thoroughly before use.
Are cookies your weakness? Like many people, cookies are a favorite treat and comfort food. After all, most are filled with butter, margarine or some kind of hydrogenated oil, loads of sugar, and often white flour. There are many new organic and non-organic healthy options that include whole grains, very little sugar, and healthier oils. I love Kashi TLC cookies. They’re chewy but add some crunch and one cookie is plenty for me, so one box can go a long way. Flavor options are Happy Trail Mix, Oatmeal Dark Chocolate, and Oatmeal Raisin Flakes. These powerhouses provide less sugar, seven whole grains, 0 grams of cholesterol, 3 grams of fiber, and only 130 calories per large cookie!
If you enjoy popsicles and sorbet as a fun treat, here’s a super easy recipe to make some at home to avoid paying a premium over healthier options packaged at the grocery store. I really love Eddie’s Fruit Bars and they are a great, cool treat option! However, with their recent price hike I refuse to pay their now $4 price tag so I’m making my own. I have small Tupperware cups with lids (about ¾-1 full cup in size) Use whatever fruit you have on hand or buy some fresh or frozen fruit. My favorite is Blueberry-Mango. I put frozen blueberries and purchased 100% pure frozen mango pulp in my food processor. Give it a few pulses until really smooth then pour into cups to freeze. It’s great for kids! No added sugar, no fat, just 100% fruit and so delicious! You can also try bananas, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, blackberries! For something zingy, add in some orange or pineapple juice. No need for popsicle sticks, you can spoon it out of the cup and eat it.
Veggies and dips can be a staple at parties and can appear healthy until they are coated with dips that are usually high in fat, high in salt and usually made from dairy. If you haven’t tried it or are used to buying it from the grocery store, now is the time to make your own hummus! The main ingredient of hummus is chickpeas which are also known as garbanzo beans. You can buy a can, drain them, wash them and then put them in your food processor with a clove of garlic, some black pepper and a little sea salt to taste, and some tahini. I use whatever I have in the house, so I usually use ground cumin, which also tastes good. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and pulse until smooth and creamy looking. Hummus is great as a spread on crackers, bread or as a vegetable dip, and anyone can eat it whether your vegetarian, vegan or lactose intolerant.
Source by Karla M. Davis
