“What are your cheat foods?” asked a friend who was inquiring about how I managed to lose 75 pounds and maintain it. At first, I was totally confused by her question, because in my mind, cheating was out of the question, especially now that I was feeling so much more revived and energized.
But, her question really got me thinking about my eating habits. I didn’t feel the need to cheat because I had found healthy substitutes for every food item that had caused me trouble. As I thought more about it, I came to realize that this was the key that made it possible for me to adhere to a healthier lifestyle without ever feeling as if I was missing out.
Finding healthy substitutes was the strategy that had helped me the most. As long as I have a steady supply of the following substitutes, I will never be tempted to cheat.
Here are my favorite foods and the substitutes that keep me on track:
Potato Chips:
Who can resist the salty crunch that comes in so many varieties of flavors? I can! And so can you when you get your hands on these substitutes:
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Plantain Chips
- Beet Chips
- Nuts: pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, pistachios (avoid peanuts, cashews, and sunflower seeds)
French Fries:
Crisp on the outside, moist and creamy on the inside. I never thought I could resist until I found these substitutes:
- Sweet Potato fries
- Fried okra (in almond flour)
- Fried asparagus (in almond flour)
- Fried mushrooms (in almond flour)
Popcorn:
Seriously, a movie without popcorn? I didn’t think I would last until I heard about this amazing substitute:
- Popped Sorghum (organic, non-gmo)
Butter:
Everything is more delicious with butter, but if you’re trying to avoid or reduce dairy products, you can try these healthy substitutes:
- Ghee (clarified butter)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Rice:
Some meals just don’t feel complete without this naughty starch. But no worries, let these tasty substitutes save the day!
- Basmati Rice
- Miracle Rice
Pasta:
This one is just as serious as rice, another tempting food that is hard to live without because it’s so versatile. When trying to avoid pasta, it closes off so many meal options and means no Mac and cheese, no spaghetti, no lasagna, no nothing-good! No need to pout anymore, because these noodles are worth trying out:
- Cappello’s Pasta
- Miracle Noodles
Bread, Cakes, Muffins, cookies:
Wheat flour and sugar are the main reasons why these foods are so bad for us, but when you swap out the wheat flour and sugar, it really opens the door to new and delicious food possibilities. Consider these substitutes:
Make these items yourself by replacing the wheat flour with:
- almond flour
- coconut flour
- sweeten with stevia
Alternative: Sour dough bread is healthier than regular because of the fermentation process it undergoes, but eat in moderation, of course. Rather than using two slices to make a sandwich, cut one slide in half.
Chocolate ice cream:
Yummy. Period.
Substitutes:
- Organic Heavy Whipping Cream: Make your own light whipped version by using a cup of heavy whipping cream, whip it in a stand mixer or blender and add ¼ – ½ teaspoon of 100% cocoa powder, then sweeten with stevia. Let it firm up in the freezer and enjoy. Optional: switch out the chocolate for vanilla extract, other natural flavorings or berries to create a whole new ice cream flavor!
- Avocado (hass only) and unsweetened coconut milk: Swap out the heavy whipping cream from the instructions above for avocado and coconut milk if you’re trying to avoid or reduce your dairy intake.
Chocolate candy:
There is no need to try to live without chocolate. It is actually good for us, it’s the sugar that makes it bad. Here’s what you can do to fix that:
Substitute:
Make your own by melting 100% dark, unsweetened chocolate mixed with a little heavy whipping cream. Sweeten with stevia then add vanilla extract or mint extract to enhance the flavor. Optional: add almonds for crunch. Chill in the refrigerator to firm up, then enjoy.
Soda:
I couldn’t go without my fizzy lifting drinks, so here’s my recommended substitute:
Use natural sparkling water, add 100% organic lemon juice then sweeten with stevia. You can also infuse with other fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries.
So there you have it! I hope these delicious substitutes help you stick your healthy eating habits as much as they have helped me!
It’s Worth it
All of the effort you put into eating right and improving your health is worth it! When you begin to feel better and look great, you’ll come to see that it’s definitely worth the time you put into it.
For more strategies for adhering to a healthy lifestyle, get your copy of Worth the Weight, the story of my health journey that left me 75 pounds lighter, energized, and younger-looking