Eating healthy is a lifestyle. It’s definitely not easy at times, and we’ve all found ourselves tempted by our favorite comfort foods. Whether you have a powerful sweet tooth or you crave salty snacks, there IS a healthy solution to curbing your cravings. We’ve found 5 healthier alternatives to your favorite unhealthy guilty pleasures.
If you love the crunchy sweetness of
Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists
your tastebuds will dance for this healthier alternative:
Stacy’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips
Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists / Stacy’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips
170 / 140 – calories per serving
6 / 5 – grams of fat
210 / 115 – milligrams of sodium
27 / 20 – total carbohydrates
12 / 6 – grams of sugar
1 / 3 – grams of protein
1 / 1 – gram of fiber
These crunchy pita chips will provide you with the perfect amount of cinnamon and sugar that you crave, with fewer calories, fat, sodium and carbs than Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists and HALF the sugar per serving!
If you crave the salty goodness of
Lay’s Classic Potato Chips
this healthier alternative will hit the spot:
Popchips Sea Salt Potato Chips
Lay’s Classic Potato Chips / Sea Salt Potato Popchips
160 / 120 – calories per serving (1 oz)
10 / 4 – grams of fat
1.5 / 0 – grams of saturated fat
170 / 190 – milligrams of sodium
15 / 19 – total carbohydrates
1 / 0 – grams of sugar
2 / 1 – grams of protein
1 / 1 – gram of fiber
While there’s slightly more sodium and carbohydrates in a single serving of Sea Salt Potato Popchips, the numbers are in their favor when it comes to calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar. And they’re heated in a pressurized chamber, letting them pop upon quick release, instead of deep fried, like regular potato chips. We’re not saying these will taste exactly like the greasy goodness of all that is “the fried potato chip,” but they’ll definitely hit the spot.
If you daydream about the creamy flavor of
McDonald’s McCafe Vanilla Shake
You’ll be just as satisfied with:
Shakeology Vanilla Shake with added Bananas
McDonald’s McCafe Vanilla Shake / Shakeology Vanilla Shake
530 / 130 – calories per serving (12 oz)
15 / 2 – grams of fat
10 / 0 – grams of saturated fat
1 / 0 – grams of trans fat
60 / 5 – milligrams of cholesterol
160 / 200 – milligrams of sodium
86 / 14 – total carbohydrates
63 / 7 – grams of sugar
11 / 16 – grams of protein
0 / 3 – grams of fiber
The numbers are pretty self explanatory here. Add to that the plethora of vitamins and minerals in a Shakeology Vanilla Shake, and it’s a no brainer which is the healthier option. But the best part is, if you add a medium banana to your shake (just about another 100 calories), it will literally taste like a vanilla milk shake! Tried and true.
If your Netflix binge watching guilty pleasure is
Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey
Your tastebuds will titillate for:
Yonana’s Banana, Chocolate & Walnut Fruit Soft Serve
Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey / Yonana’s Banana Soft Serve (with chocolate chips & walnuts to taste)
300/ 105 – calories per serving (1/2 cup/one medium banana)
18 / 0 – grams of fat
1o / 0 – grams of saturated fat
0 / 0 – grams of trans fat
65 / 0 – milligrams of cholesterol
35 / 1 – milligrams of sodium
30 / 26 – total carbohydrates
28 / 14 – grams of sugar
4 / 1 – grams of protein
1 / 3 – grams of fiber
(The nutritional value above is for one frozen banana in a single serving of Yonanas soft serve. This number will change depending on how many chocolate chips and walnuts you add to your fruit soft serve.)
Yonanas takes frozen fruit and turns it into a thick, creamy soft serve desert with absolutely no added sugar. To make a healthier version of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream, all you need is one frozen banana and chocolate chips and walnuts to sprinkle over the top. Amazing. Simple. Healthy.
If you can’t seem to keep your hands out of the cookie jar, and daydream about
Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies
You can keep your cravings at bay with:
Froovie Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies / Froovie GF Chocolate Chip Cookies
160 /110 – calories per serving (3 cookies/1 oz)
8 / 5 – grams of fat
2.5 / 2.5 – grams of saturated fat
0 / 0 – grams of trans fat
0 / 0 – milligrams of cholesterol
110 / 30 – milligrams of sodium
22 / 17 – total carbohydrates
11 / 6 – grams of sugar
1 / 2 – grams of protein
1 / 4 – grams of fiber
With almost half the amount of sugar, less fat and carbs, and more protein and fiber, Froovie’s Gluten Free Cookies will hit the spot in your cookie-loving belly, without sticking around.
This post is meant for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice from your physician, doctor or health care professional. Please read our terms of use for more information.
Photo credit: Marley Layne’s Closet
