7 Healthy Junk Food Alternatives that won’t Make you Feel Guilty

We’ve all been there. After a whole week feeling great because we stuck to our diet. Then something unexpected happens, we get stressed. The only thing that’s going to help us is comfort food. I am sure you recognize this, don’t you?

The problem is, comfort food usually equals unhealthy junk food. So yes, we probably feel better, for a while. But in the long run, we add lots of unneeded calories to our bodies. Which of course adds to our stress.

Instead of munching on unnecessary sugar and fat calories, why not try some healthy alternatives? Do such things exist? Healthy junk food alternatives? Yes, with some small adjustments to your already satisfying foods, you can cut the calories without cutting the taste.

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Healthy junk food alternatives

Chocolate is the best

Do you love chocolate? I know I do. Even when I am not stressed. 😉 I guess almost everyone out there loves chocolate when we’re stressed or sad, but we can still indulge without expanding our waistline.

Instead of using milk chocolate in your recipes, try using dark chocolate or cocoa powder. They have all the good taste of chocolate, and they’re chock-full of antioxidants and other healthy things.

Just remember, milk and sugar cut down on the healthy benefits of dark chocolate, so use them sparingly in these recipes. Or better yet, replace it with a better choice. Use vegetable milk instead of cow’s milk and replace the sugar with stevia, honey, or maple syrup.

Related: What is the Difference between Chocolate and Cacao, or is it Cocoa?

Chips or fries

Chips are especially on top of the list of comfort food. Yet, we’re often feeling guilty if we eat them, don’t we?

Let’s say you’re at a party and there’s no choice but the usual salty chips. You can reduce the damage by chewing longer than usual. The funny thing is that a well-chewed bowl of chips or fries is even healthier than a salad that is eaten too quickly and swallowed without chewing.

When you’re at home it’s easy to make healthy chips or fries. Cut either potatoes or sweet potatoes in thin slices or strips. Put them on baking paper on an oven plate. Bake them for 40 minutes in a heated oven at 200 degrees Celsius. Extra delicious if you sprinkle some turmeric or Your Super Golden Mellow over it.

Instead of potatoes, it’s also delicious to fry or bake vegetables. Tom often makes those the same way in the oven and adds lots of herbs to it. Yummy.

Oh, and by the way, choose organic produce for this treat, as well as the others described here.

Pasta is a real fatter

Pasta is a great way to make you feel full and satisfied, but it’s also a certain way to pack on the pounds. Substitute your favourite pasta dish with whole grain or sprouted grain pasta.

In our organic store, they have an ample choice of alternative kinds of pasta, that is made of quinoa or peas.

For an extra dose of healthy food, be sure to add fresh or frozen vegetables. We also add a lot of nuts and seeds to our plates of pasta to replace meat.

Macaroni and cheese is another favourite, which is double fattening. Instead of cheese, I sprinkle brewer’s yeast flakes on my pasta. It doesn’t taste exactly the same as cheese, but I like it anyway. Tom doesn’t eat yeast because of his gout-preventing diet.

Beef and other meat

Do you love hamburgers, meatloaf, or anything else with minced beef? Try substituting all or some of the minced beef in your recipes with chopped turkey. It has a similar taste, but even using a half-and-half mix cuts down on fat and calories in your meal.

Our grandkids love hamburgers and hate most vegetables. Tom has tricked them with vegetable hamburgers that are really delicious. Our son adopted the recipe immediately. And we like them ourselves as well. Although we prefer to eat them without having the grandkids around. Otherwise, we stand no chance.

Vegetable hamburgers can be made from raw and cooked vegetables. The raw ones usually consist of small cut pieces of vegetables such as paprika, broccoli, carrots, garlic, zucchini. These pieces are mixed with 2 or 3 eggs and corn and/or almond flour. Add enough flour to make it a sticky mass.

When you use boiled vegetables, mix them with a blender. Then add the eggs and flour. You can fry both types of burgers in a baking pan. Tom prefers to prepare them in the oven on a plate covered with baking paper. When they’re golden brown on both sides, the burgers are done.

Soup is a quick comfort food

Some say soup is food for a cold day but we eat it often. It’s a marvellous way to get a high dose of vegetables (we are trying to get to 500 gr a day, which is a lot, I can assure you). Instead of using canned soup or a package of dried soup, make your own.

Canned soups and packages have tons of salt and preservatives. Simply making the soup yourself instead of relying on cans makes the dish a whole lot healthier. Plus, you can make it just how you and your family like it!

Tom has shared his favourite Pumpkin Soup in this article.

Mashed potatoes

Delicious, yet when made the traditional way it’s not super-healthy. Make it better by replacing every or part of the ingredients.

Dried fruit

Dates, raisins, and dried apricots are way better than candy and taken out of the closet just as quickly as a candy box. In my articles about dates, I have put a recipe for power balls that can be made quickly and taste really delicious.

Some final tips

The problem with cravings is they come up in an instant when we are not prepared for them. My tip is to think about those healthy junk food alternatives before you are stressed out and need to be comforted. Make some healthy snacks and meals you can freeze or put in the fridge for later use.

Another tip is to use lots of spices and herbs. When we cut back on fat and calories, food has a tendency to get bland, so when making a new healthy recipe, pump up the seasoning of your food. Try experimenting with different spices, herbs, and quantities until you get it just right.

When you start to think about alternatives it’s not that hard to come up with healthy ideas. Like a homemade smoothie instead of a milkshake. Coconut ice cream can replace creamy ice cream. Water, flavoured with some drops of essential oil, is better than soda.

There are way more alternatives. Will you share your favourite one in the comment box below? Thanks!