Just like we love a good decor dupe, there are also great food dupes or alternatives to healthy eating. I’m a huge foodie, therefore eating delicious but nutritious meals is also important to me. Nothing is worse than having to swap out healthy alternatives for something that tastes horrible, or as we say, “hospital food”.
1. Coffee Creamer Alternative
Instead of coffee creamers, (and I know there are plenty of healthy alternatives to dairy creamers) I like to use the Coconut and Almond Vanilla Coffee Creamer from Trader Joe’s. I am not lactose, but If I’m going to have dairy and avoid the bloating I will save it all for cheese! I’ve tried coconut creamers, (not my fave) and almond creamers which never make the coffee as creamy as I’d like, so this to me is the perfect marriage of the two kinds of milk. I barely have to use sugar to make my coffee sweet, but also it has a vanilla flavor to take out the nutty flavors both kinds of milk have. It’s probably not the best out there, but it’s by far my favorite coffee creamer. A little bit goes a long way and I also like to buy two at a time to save me a trip to the store in case I have guests over. An alternative to coffee as your daily dose of caffeine you can also try drinking tea! There are so many health benefits to tea. Below i’ve linked one of my favorite teas and kettle pot to try it out!
2. Sugar Alternative
Instead of using brown sugar or those bitter-tasting sugar sweeteners, I use Monkfruit Sugar. I swear by this sugar because It tastes and looks just like natural sugar without the calories, carbs, and sugars, and may even provide health benefits because it is derived from the juice of monk fruit. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation, monk fruit is about 150-200 times sweeter than sugar so it’s also perfect for baking. It is not always available (high demand) and it’s costly, but to me, that is a good sign that something is good.
3. Nutrient-rich Breakfast Bowls
Instead of cereal packed with sugars try making chia pudding, overnight oats, or a yogurt parfait. A bowl of cereal is perfect for an on-the-go breakfast meal, for many, especially for children. Some are better than others, but most cereals have a lot of sugar and don’t have many health benefits because they lack micronutrients like protein and fiber. Oatmeal has both natural protein and fiber. Chia pudding is slightly sweet but protein-packed, and yogurt is healthy, but also good for your gut health. Add fruit, almond butter, and a little monk fruit sugar especially if you are using almond base sugar-free milk like I do to make these options and you are good to go!
4. Healthy Snacks
Instead of chips try sliced veggies or veggie chip alternatives. I’m not a fan of uncooked veggies per se. I won’t be the one running to the table to eat some carrots and celery sticks with a dip at a party so I was very happy when I found other healthy alternative options to chips. When eating guacamole or even hummus, cutting up some cucumbers or jicama is also delicious. For those who aren’t familiar with Jicama, it is a nutrient and low-calorie vegetable that is high in water and fiber. As written on the Health Evolution website, “Jicama is good for digestion, has cancer-fighting agents and can help reverse diabetes, improves heart health and benefits your bones to name a few”. Other alternatives to chips are Terra Sweets & Beets Vegetable Chips, Hippeas, and Veggie Straws to name a few.
5. Healthy Sweets
Instead of candy try dried fruits or chocolate-covered fruits. Most of us have a sweet tooth, but high-sugar sweets have little to no nutritional value, period. If you replace candy with dried fruits like mango, apple, or banana to name a few they are a lot healthier and packed with nutrients. Another alternative for something sweet such as store-bought muffins is to make them at home. I buy a lot of bananas and sometimes they turn brown faster than I expected so I put them in a zip lock, and freeze them when I am in the mood for cake or something sweet for breakfast. I love making banana bread and using monk fruit to substitute the 1 cup of sugar that it requires.
Making healthy swaps for everyday foods can still be enjoyable. Food is life, and if you are like us who are already thinking about what’s for lunch during breakfast, everything we consume should be healthy, but also tasty. Choosing whole foods rather than nutrient-poor items can help improve your health. I’m not saying one can’t have a yummy bowl of cinnamon toast crunch, eat a bag of Cheeto chips, or indulge in sugar or candy. I just think that we can choose to eat healthy alternatives to make our diets nutrient rich.
If you want to see more of our healthy alternatives, check out more of our recipes! Comment below with your favorite healthy food alternative or any questions you have for us!
