When you are trying to lose weight or you simply want to start eating healthier, it can be difficult to do smart food swaps. You might love eating high fat foods and many sweets, but these foods are not healthy at all. There are a few simple food swaps to incorporate into your eating plan to stay healthy. They are quick, easy and super delicious. I’ve even found that my healthy food swaps taste better than the high fat foods. Try out a few of these smart food swaps for your favorite meals. They will help you feel full longer and reach your weight loss goal faster without starving yourself.
1. Oatmeal pancakes instead of regular flour pancakes
Many of us love pancakes, but these refined carbohydrates can cause a spike in blood sugar, and it’s unhealthy for weight loss. So why not try a healthy swap of oatmeal pancakes instead? Use a mixture of oatmeal and Greek yogurt to create a healthy version of breakfast pancakes. Just mix together two egg whites, half a cup of old-fashioned oatmeal, 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt and a dash cinnamon. Blend until smooth and cook like you’d regular pancakes.
2. Pizza wrap instead of pan pizza
This is one of the most delicious food swaps for my favorite meal! Make a whole grain pizza wrap with sliced mushrooms, your favorite veggies, a teaspoon of marinara sauce, and a sprinkle of skim cheese. This pizza wrap is much healthier than pan pizza, and it’s perfect even for a very strict diet.
3. Mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes
If you want to avoid spikes in your blood sugar caused by potatoes, start consuming mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. Cauliflower is low in calories and high in vitamin C, manganese, copper, calcium iron, and potassium that your body needs to stay healthy. I love to add a bit of milk and some puree from my favorite veggies to my mashed cauliflower. To tell the truth, I didn’t like mashed cauliflower at first, but now it’s an important part of my healthy eating plan.
4. Spaghetti squash instead of pasta
Spaghetti squash is plentiful in cancer fighting antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. This meal will help you avoid the excess of carbohydrates in pasta and help boost your energy levels. Spaghetti squash has a similar consistency to real spaghetti and it tastes fantastic! Eating spaghetti squash regularly will improve your health and better your waistline. If you want to make meatballs for your spaghetti squash, consider making chicken or turkey meatballs to avoid fat and calories.
More: 10 Sneaky Tricks to Eat Less
5. Chicken on lettuce instead of a bun
Try wrapping your chicken sandwich in some romaine lettuce or collards. This veggie has cancer-fighting properties and it can also help to reduce your cholesterol. I know it doesn’t sound tasty, but if you add in your favorite veggies,your chicken sandwich will be tastier and healthier. The research shows that dark green leafy vegetables such as collards, romaine lettuce, and spinach help prevent heart disease and boost your immune system.
6. Summer squash instead of potato
Finally, summer squash is a healthier and fresher substitute for those carbohydrate-heavy potatoes. Grate squash (yellow squash or zucchini), mix in an egg white as binder, make little round patties and broil in your oven or cook in olive oil. This meal is healthier and tastier than hash browns.
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. There are many wonderful healthy meals you can eat these days to stay fit and healthy. Enjoy these simple food swaps and remember that even the smallest change can make a huge difference. If you don’t need to lose weight, it doesn’t mean that you can eat what you want. In fact, you can, but think of your health. If you want to live a longer life, healthy eating is a must. So, ladies, what are your favorite smart food swaps?
