Trying to eat healthy is no easy tasks, especially when your favorite recipes use ingredients that aren’t all that wholesome. But instead of having to learn a whole new slew of healthy recipes, you’re better off making healthy substitutions instead. Here are some awesome food substitutions so you can keep cooking your favorite meals.
Substitute White Rice for This:
We all love a nice bowl of red beans and rice, or that delicious vegetable stir fry topped over a freshly cooked batch of rice. But we also know that white rice isn’t the healthiest as it breaks down into sugar once eaten. Your best bet is to substitute it with one of these delicious and wholesome options.
- Quinoa
- Brown Rice
- Cauliflower Rice
Substitute Your Pasta for This:
Pasta dishes is one of those go to dishes to make when you’re too tired or busy to make a big meal. While it’s super filling, and easy to throw together most spaghetti dishes are chock full of carbs. We’ve found some awesome substitution that not only are a perfect replacement but are also vitamin rich.
- Zucchini Noodles
- Carrot Noodles
- Butternut Squash Noodles
- Cauliflower Gnocchi
Substitute Sugar for This:
Sugar is found in almost everything that we eat so it’s tough trying to cut that one out completely. However, we can limit how much we use it in our own cooking or drinks.
- Agave Nectar
- Stevia
- Honey
Substitute Sodas for This:
What is more refreshing than downing an ice-cold coke on a warm summer day? Even better when it’s paired with some of our favorite foods. But it’s no secret how sugary these drinks are, and while it’s okay to drink them every once in a while, we know that even the sugar free versions, are full of chemicals. Here are some soda substitutions that still give you all the fizzy goodness you crave without the extra calories.
- Flavored Seltzer Water
- Seltzer Water
- Kombucha
Tip: If you’re not interested in the fizz, you can also replace your soda with a cold glass of coconut water. Not only is it healthy, but its electrolytes will keep you hydrated longer than any sugary beverage.
Substitute Red Meat for This:
Pulled pork on a delicious bun, a perfectly cut steak with a side of mashed potatoes. Yum! Who doesn’t enjoy these, especially during grill season, but again too much of something is never good. High red meat consumption is linked to obesity and heart disease. So, we found some great alternatives.
- Sea Food
- Chicken
- Bean Burgers
- Tofu
- Tempeh
- Beans
- Eggs
Substitute Dairy and Milk for This:
We were inundated with drink milk campaigns as we were kids. It was primarily served while we were at school, and dairy is a large portion of what we consume on a regular basis. While milk and dairy products can be very beneficial, we’re also learning that there can be some setbacks for too much dairy consumption especially in higher fat dairy products. Try these awesome substitutions instead:
- Almond Milk
- Oat Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Soy Milk