9 Easy Swaps to Start Eating Healthy Today
It dawned on me that this year marks 11 years since I was at my heaviest weight of 225 pounds! It was quite the journey getting to where I am today, 85 pounds later... and what really has maintained my health and weight loss is the lifestyle change I made. There are so many ways to get creative to make eating healthier manageable and not just this temporary, quick fix. Below I've listed food swaps I swear by!
1. Halo Top Creamery for Ice Cream
If you're like me, you have the hugest sweet tooth. But fear not, this stuff is amazing and tastes just like the real thing. I never feel deprived of Ben & Jerry's pints because they have SOO many flavors. They average about 15 g carbs, 3 g fat, 4 g PROTEIN per serving. If you want the whole pint, it's under 400 calories!
2. Zoodles for Pasta/Noodles
I've already posted about my obsession with using my spiralizer to create zucchini noodles...
3. Stevia for Sugar
This stuff is different than Splenda or Sweet n Low. It contains no aspartame and it's plant based since it's a natural sweetener from the Stevia plant. You can buy it in a jar or in packet form to add to your coffee or tea!
4. Zevia "Soda" for Soda
Speaking of Stevia, they make this "soda" drink, 0 carbs, cals, sugar, etc and I think it tastes delicious. The strange thing is that it is clear. I hadn't noticed this until one of my friends poured it into a glass recently. This is much better than even diet soda.
5. Soda Water with your choice of alcohol instead of a cocktail/beer
All of the unnecessary sugar from those sugary concoctions adds up and just turns into fat in your body. Beer...is just asking for obvious bloat. Soda water and your choice of alcohol can even involve a splash of your favorite juice for a hint of sweetness. No sugar, low carbs and basically just extra calories if you're out drinking.
6. Low Fat Greek Yogurt for Regular Yogurt
There is so much protein in Greek Yogurt that regular yogurt lacks. It's also important to ensure that your Greek Yogurt is under 10 g of sugar - that's the rule of thumb I stick to. Plain Greek Yogurt is a GREAT alternative for sour cream as an added bonus!
7. Kodiak Cakes for Regular Pancakes/Waffles
This stuff is amazing. There is mix that even has protein added into it so you can get a nutritious breakfast from one pancake! The mix can also be used for waffles and definitely beats any other plain pancake mix since it comes from whole ingredients.
8. Sprouted/Fibrous Bread for Regular bread
This is a pretty recent change as a part of me trying to consume more foods that are ALIVE. Sprouted bread is usually found in the freezer aisle to preserve its freshness. It's without wheat and the chemicals that come with it. You can always start with bread that has added fiber to ensure you're getting adequate levels!
9. Black Coffee for Frappucinos/Lattes
Black coffee is an acquired taste, I get it but those fancy Starbucks drinks load up the calories. We all saw that picture going around when the Unicorn Frappucino came out? 85 grams of SUGAR in a Grande?! If you can't commit to all black, then a splash of milk or creamer is okay with a natural sweetener like Stevia or honey. No white-colored coffee, more like tan-colored, haha.
If you're like me, you have the hugest sweet tooth. But fear not, this stuff is amazing and tastes just like the real thing. I never feel deprived of Ben & Jerry's pints because they have SOO many flavors. They average about 15 g carbs, 3 g fat, 4 g PROTEIN per serving. If you want the whole pint, it's under 400 calories!
2. Zoodles for Pasta/Noodles
I've already posted about my obsession with using my spiralizer to create zucchini noodles...
3. Stevia for Sugar
This stuff is different than Splenda or Sweet n Low. It contains no aspartame and it's plant based since it's a natural sweetener from the Stevia plant. You can buy it in a jar or in packet form to add to your coffee or tea!
4. Zevia "Soda" for Soda
Speaking of Stevia, they make this "soda" drink, 0 carbs, cals, sugar, etc and I think it tastes delicious. The strange thing is that it is clear. I hadn't noticed this until one of my friends poured it into a glass recently. This is much better than even diet soda.
5. Soda Water with your choice of alcohol instead of a cocktail/beer
All of the unnecessary sugar from those sugary concoctions adds up and just turns into fat in your body. Beer...is just asking for obvious bloat. Soda water and your choice of alcohol can even involve a splash of your favorite juice for a hint of sweetness. No sugar, low carbs and basically just extra calories if you're out drinking.
6. Low Fat Greek Yogurt for Regular Yogurt
There is so much protein in Greek Yogurt that regular yogurt lacks. It's also important to ensure that your Greek Yogurt is under 10 g of sugar - that's the rule of thumb I stick to. Plain Greek Yogurt is a GREAT alternative for sour cream as an added bonus!
7. Kodiak Cakes for Regular Pancakes/Waffles
This stuff is amazing. There is mix that even has protein added into it so you can get a nutritious breakfast from one pancake! The mix can also be used for waffles and definitely beats any other plain pancake mix since it comes from whole ingredients.
8. Sprouted/Fibrous Bread for Regular bread
This is a pretty recent change as a part of me trying to consume more foods that are ALIVE. Sprouted bread is usually found in the freezer aisle to preserve its freshness. It's without wheat and the chemicals that come with it. You can always start with bread that has added fiber to ensure you're getting adequate levels!
9. Black Coffee for Frappucinos/Lattes
Black coffee is an acquired taste, I get it but those fancy Starbucks drinks load up the calories. We all saw that picture going around when the Unicorn Frappucino came out? 85 grams of SUGAR in a Grande?! If you can't commit to all black, then a splash of milk or creamer is okay with a natural sweetener like Stevia or honey. No white-colored coffee, more like tan-colored, haha.