Being fit and living an overall healthy lifestyle is essential for those who care about themselves. However, it can be hard to achieve this goal due to all the restrictions placed on them, like eating healthier than what they are used to, for example, junk food. However, worry no more! These 10 suggestions will make you forget about your hunger pangs as you indulge in these delicious treats, which taste just as good or have even better flavors.
Kale Chips
Kale chips are a delicious, easy-to-make food that is great for eating on the go or as a snack at home. Kale is considered an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. It also contains other nutrients like calcium, potassium, and iron(1).
The nutritional value of kale makes it such a healthy alternative to French fries or potato chips. Kale chips can be made in an oven by baking the kale leaves on a baking sheet with olive oil and some salt drizzle.
Baking time varies depending on how crispy you want your kale to be, but most people prefer them slightly crispy after about ten minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 C).
If you're looking for more healthy food alternatives, try these recipes:
Baked Sweet Potato Wedges -These baked sweet potatoes are covered in cinnamon sugar and then baked until they've turned golden brown!
Spinach Dip -This spinach dip recipe is made without mayonnaise, full of flavor without all the fat!
Nutrients (1):
- Calories- 110
- Total fat- 5 g
- Total carbs- 16 g
- Fiber- 6 g
- Protein- 5 g
Dark Chocolate
If you don't have time to go run out for a hamburger or try to avoid fast food at all costs these days in the name of health and wellness, we've got. With every bite you take, you're doing something good for yourself. Dark chocolate has become an increasingly popular replacement for people who want a sweet snack but don't want to give up any health benefits they might otherwise gain from consuming it.
For example, high-quality dark chocolate can reduce heart disease risk, lower insulin resistance and inflammation, and make you smarter - oh yeah, and it tastes great too!
This isn't just your average candy bar, either. Take a 101g chunk of 70% to 85% cocoa content dark chocolate with some healthy fats (low in sugar) and turn down those cravings without feeling guilty about it later on (2). Here's how to make it:
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups cocoa powder (or more if needed)
¼ cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method:
Melt the coconut oil over low heat in a medium saucepan. Add the honey, cocoa powder, and vanilla and continue mixing until well combined.
Try Lining an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, then pour the mixture into the pan and put it in the freezer for an hour until it hardens. Remove from the freezer, cut into bite-sized pieces, and eat!
Nutrition information per piece: Calories: 46; Fat: 4g; Protein: 1g; Carbohydrates: 5g
Hummus
Hummus is an excellent alternative to fast food because it's made from healthy ingredients like chickpeas (a good source of protein, iron, and fiber), tahini (which contains calcium and other vitamins and minerals), and olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.
Keep in mind that the store-bought varieties often contain a lot of added sugars and salt. The best option is to make your hummus at home so you can control exactly what goes into it.
Celery Sticks With Blue Cheese Dip
Celery is a vegetable with a lot of benefits. It's low in calories and low in fat, but it's high in taste and nutrition. If you're trying to cut back on fast food (and who isn't?), you can snack on celery sticks to help you stay healthy.
The next time you want to order some buffalo wings at your favorite wing restaurant, try making some celery sticks with blue cheese dip instead. You'll be happy that you did when you're not feeling sluggish from all that fried chicken and blue cheese on top of it!
Here's how to make them: First, wash the celery stalks under running water for about 30 seconds. Then chop up the celery stalks into smaller pieces (about 1 inch long). Place these pieces into a bowl or onto a plate. Next, mix together 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of milk or sour cream until smooth.
Once this mixture is smooth, add 3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese and stir, so it's evenly distributed throughout the dip mixture. All that's left is to serve the dip alongside those beautiful green celery stalks!
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Fast food is a quick and easy go-to; however, it's often not the healthiest choice. Baked sweet potato fries are an excellent alternative to hit the spot when you want something crispy and delicious but don't want to compromise your health. Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6 and vitamin C, two vitamins that aren't produced naturally in our bodies.
They can be eaten as a side dish or even as an on-the-go snack! They can be served with ketchup or even maple syrup! It takes ten minutes of prep work and then throws them into the oven for thirty minutes.
Ingredients:
1 large sweet potato
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut potato into thick strips; remove skin if desired. Toss with salt and oil until evenly coated. Spread onto a baking sheet lined with foil, keeping space between each fry to allow maximum crispiness. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until done (check by piercing the fry with a toothpick). Serve immediately and enjoy!
Blueberry Baked Oats
Oats are great in the morning, unlike cereal. They provide many vital nutrients for lowering your cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of coronary artery disease. Plus, they're rich in antioxidants and fiber that can protect against obesity or chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup almond milk
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp natural yogurt (or 1/2 mashed banana)
1 tsp pure maple syrup or 1 Medjool date, pitted and roughly chopped
Few drops of vanilla extract (optional)
Pinch of sea salt
A handful of frozen blueberries or desired fruit, plus extra for serving (fresh is fine too!)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Spray a ramekin with cooking oil.
Mix all the ingredients until combined. Add the blueberries last and mix gently to spread throughout the mix evenly.
If you love cinnamon, add a pinch or two here!
Pour into your ramekin and top with more blueberries if desired. Bake 20-25 min until golden, brown, and crispy on top but still soft in the middle. Serve immediately with your toppings – I had mine with homemade granola!
Chicken Noodle Soup
Who doesn't love a bowl of steamy, savory chicken noodle soup to make them feel better when they're under the weather? The cup of comfort known as chicken noodle soup is filled with tons of nutrients beneficial for your immune system. Chicken and noodles are excellent protein sources, while vegetables provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Find this recipe on MarthaStewart.com.
Roasted Nuts
Nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews, and peanuts are a great source of protein and fiber. That being said, they can be high in calories. Stick to raw nuts and avoid salted nuts or honey-roasted nuts that may have additional ingredients you don't need. To reduce the calorie content even further, try roasting unsalted nuts at home at about 250 degrees for about 10 minutes to bring out their flavor.
Seaweed Snacks
Seaweed contains iodine, which is essential for a healthy thyroid gland.
It also contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Because of its high fiber content, seaweed can help lower your blood pressure and even decrease bad cholesterol.
Eaten in moderation, seaweed is also great for weight loss and digestion.
Seaweed comes in two varieties: brown and red. Red seaweed is anchored to the seafloor, while brown seaweed relies on gas-filled bladders to float in the ocean's currents. While they look similar to land plants, they belong entirely to different species—the sea vegetable kingdom!
Now that you know the basics of seaweed's health benefits, let's have some fun with this versatile food source by looking at how it can be used in your next meal or snack.
Avocado & Egg Toast
Don't be afraid of the carbs from the toast. Avocados are one of nature's perfect foods, and they are loaded with healthy fats that will keep you full for hours. Eggs have the highest quality protein available, making them great for weight loss. This snack is packed with vitamins, fiber, and healthy fats to satisfy you until dinner rolls around.
Ingredients:
2 hard-boiled eggs cut in half
1 ripe avocado cut into chunks
4 slices of whole-grain bread, toasted and sliced in half
Directions: Place a few avocado chunks on each piece of toast. Top with egg halves and sprinkle with coarse sea salt and pepper to taste.
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