The TikTok butter board trend isn’t the healthiest spread, but these six registered dietitian–approved ideas are just as fun and tasty, and way better for you.
While traditional pasta is so delicious, sometimes we may want a healthy pasta alternative with more fiber and protein and less or no gluten!
Looking to make some changes in your diet? Here's a list of 20 healthy food swaps you can make for all of your favorite junk foods cravings!
We all know we should eat less processed sugar, but what are the healthiest sugar alternatives? I've got three of the best sugar substitutes as well as a few you should avoid!
Try the healthier versions of your favourite treats
Why is it so easy to get into the habit of eating sweets every day, but then it's so hard to stop?! Here are some reasons you might be craving sweets.
Healthy Alternative Homemade Snickers are made with dark chocolate and are a perfect healthy dessert alternative recipe to regular candy bars
For some people, even the title of this article incites a little bit of angst. Some healthy changes are easier than others, but sugar seems to be one of those things that everyone can agree on– it’s hard to resist. For starters, refined sugar (which we'll get into below) is in most processed foods, making it difficult to avoid when you need a convenient snack or meal. It’s also highly addictive. We all know that feeling of just needing one more bite… then another… and another! Sugar plays an integral role in our food culture. Many holidays and celebrations involve some sort of celebratory dessert. Birthday cakes, cookies for Santa, pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. And then there’s the more mundane 3PM sugar fix when you’re feeling that afternoon slump. Giving up refined sugar often seems unimaginable because it is highly prevalent in the Standard American Diet. Added sugar accounts for up to 17% of daily calorie intake for adults and 14% for children. Once you realize the detrimental effects sugar has on our health, that number becomes alarming. As hard as it can be, avoiding refined sugar is one of the best things you can do for your health. Once you understand what refined sugar is (and isn’t), where it hides, and the healthy alternatives (natural sugars), the idea becomes more digestible… no pun intended. Natural Sugars vs Refined Sugar Did you know natural sugars are essential to your health? They come in whole foods and contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber which slow down and moderate the absorption of the sugar. Foods with a sweet taste nourish the pancreas, spleen and stomach which are the organs of sugar absorption and distribution. Refined sugar, on the other hand, is harmful to your health, is addictive, extremely processed, contains no nutritional value, and even robs the body of essential nutrients. Refined sugar is extracted from cane sugar or sugar beets and is typically found as sucrose (think white and brown sugar). Manufacturers will also add sugars to foods that have been chemically produced (think high fructose corn syrup). Unfortunately, bad has become even more harmful and we have another factor to consider as a reason to avoid refined sugar – genetically modified sugar beets! Thankfully, consumer power is already influencing this market and manufacturers of candy are switching from sugar beets to sugar cane as there is no GMO cane sugar. Reasons to Avoid Refined Sugar Refined sugar is detrimental to our health in many ways, but here are the top reasons you should try to avoid it: Refined sugar is highly addictive It can cause weight gain and is one of the leading causes of obesity Depresses the immune system and increases vulnerability to illness Sugar can lead to the development of cancer Sugar increases your risk of heart disease It has been linked to acne and acceleration of the skin aging process Increases risk of diabetes and insulin resistance Can be detrimental to the liver and can lead to fatty liver Leads to depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, irritability and mood swings Leads to nutrient deficiencies Increased hyperactivity in children Where To Find Refined Sugars Refined sugars hide in almost every processed food. We all know that there are tons of processed sugars in candy bars, packaged desserts, etc, but we usually don’t think about the less obvious sources of refined sugars. Here are the wost offenders: Low-fat foods: manufacturers often add sugar to replace the fat Store bought salad dressing: these dressings are often packed with sugar Store bought tomato products: ketchup, spaghetti sauces etc. Processed Gluten-free foods: manufacturers often add sugar to replace gluten Fruit products: many juices, dehydrated fruits and even frozen fruits contain added sugars Flavored yogurt Soda and alcohol mixers Sauces: check the label on marinades, hot sauces, jellies etc. because many contain refined sugar Choosing Better Ingredients One of the easiest ways to avoid refined sugars is to eat real, whole foods. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store instead of the aisles. In general, eat whole foods with the sweet taste and use natural sweeteners like maple syrup, coconut sugar, honey or dates, instead of processed, refined sugars. Read food labels and be smart about what you’re putting into your body. There are also plenty of great, healthy alternatives to processed snacks that contain refined sugar. Spoiler alert: you don’t have to give up chocolate! Top Tips For Breaking The Habit Understand reasons you crave sugar – Apart from the additive aspect of refined sugar, too much salt, excess animal food, and stress can drive you to the cookie jar which only makes the body more unbalanced (and wanting more)! Knowing that natural foods with the sweet taste truly balance, calm and relax makes healthier choices the go-to solution. Start small: Swap out foods with refined sugar for healthier alternatives. Instead of reaching for that flavored yogurt, choose an organic, whole milk, plain greek yogurt and top it with fresh berries and a little honey. Opt for a sugar free sparkling water instead of a soda. Sweeten your morning coffee or tea with a little honey or coconut sugar. Make food at home: You can avoid consuming refined sugar by making food at home. Make your own spaghetti sauce instead of buying it from the store. Homemade items don’t always have to be time intensive. Make a quick and easy vinaigrette once a week and keep it in the fridge instead of buying store bought dressings. Be more intentional about the sugar you do (and should!) eat: Avoiding refined sugar isn’t all about restriction. Instead, try to be more thoughtful about the sugar you DO eat. It will make the experience that much sweeter. If you’re craving a muffin… have that muffin! But instead of grabbing one from the closest coffee shop, find a recipe that uses organic ingredients, good oils (coconut, ghee, avocado, etc.) and sweeten ideally with either maple syrup or honey or dates. Or use a boxed brand that doesn’t include sugar... they exist! Changing our relationship with sugar and desserts in general makes avoiding the unhealthy kinds so much easier. Conclusion It might be hard to ditch refined sugar at first, but you’ll find that your body will slowly stop craving it once you overcome the addiction. Plus, your body will thank you in countless ways – increased immunity, increased energy levels, potential weight loss, clearer skin and better long term health! More resources on this topic: https://urbanremedy.com/top-10-reasons-to-avoid-refined-sugar/, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/too-much-sugar#section10
Whatever your reasons are for seeking alternatives, just know that all the big changes that happen are actually just a cluster of little subtle changes thro
Does coconut sugar spike your blood sugar levels like sugar? Is honey sugar in sweet disguise? Are you sabotaging your healthy, sugar balanced, low sugar or even sugar free diet with healthy sugar alternatives that aren’t so ‘healthy’?! It’s time to call out popular sugar alternatives and put them u
What are the best (and worst) sugar alternatives out there? We break down what to eat to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying healthy.
Check out these healthy alternatives to white rice which will take your nutrition to a whole new level. Use these products to make easy healthy recipes and keep yourself on a healthy diet for longer.
These 3 healthy alternatives to chips are quick to make and are perfect with your favorite salsa or dip! Let's get cooking!
Do you love junk food? Who doesn't, right? But what if there were healthy alternatives to your favorite junk foods? Wouldn't that be great? We will discuss some healthy alternatives to our favorite junk foods. We will also provide recipes for each alternative so that you can try them out yourself! So, without further ado, let's get started.
What can you eat instead of bread to lose weight? We give you 11 great bread alternatives that are delicious and nutritious for your weight loss goals.
Do you love junk food? Who doesn't, right? But what if there were healthy alternatives to your favorite junk foods? Wouldn't that be great? We will discuss some healthy alternatives to our favorite junk foods. We will also provide recipes for each alternative so that you can try them out yourself! So, without further ado, let's get started.
Instead of giving up candy & chocolate completely, we've found some amazing healthier candy options! We even did a blind taste test of all of them.
Check out these healthy alternatives to white rice which will take your nutrition to a whole new level. Use these products to make easy healthy recipes and keep yourself on a healthy diet for longer.
These healthy alternatives to junk food are so good you won't miss the bad stuff. These healthy alternatives are easy to make and quick healthy alternatives
Remember that there is no such a thing as kid food, only marketing and packaging. This 5 Processed Kids Snacks You Should Avoid post will give you creative and healthy homemade alternatives. Stay Away From
Whatever your reasons are for seeking alternatives, just know that all the big changes that happen are actually just a cluster of little subtle changes thro
Below I want to share with you simple solutions for all of these cravings. Here are alternatives to guilty food pleasures to help you take control of your diet.