Growing up with a nutritionist and fitness instructor for a mother, I have tried more than my fair share of healthy substitutes. Some of them have been winners, and some of them have not. For instance, my mom once tried to swap our peanut butter for almond butter, causing pure mutiny. But over the years, there have been several healthy alternatives that I’ve not only come to accept, but prefer. Here are a few of my favorites:
Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream
I’m pretty confident I’m not alone when I say I’ve got a major sweet tooth, and whenever I need a little something sweet, frozen yogurt is my go-to. Now fro-yo isn’t healthy per say, but it allows you indulge without feeling too guilty.
Matcha Green Tea Latte vs. Coffee Latte
This is the most recent item added to my list of favorites. I rarely feel complete headed to class without a cup of something warm in my hand, especially in the winter. A matcha green tea latte has the perfect placebo effect of making you feel more alert without adding the unnecessary caffeine a normal latte would.
Almond Milk vs. Regular Milk
I’m your typical Wisconsinite through and through, which means I love all things dairy—yogurt, cheese, ice cream, etc. But in the milk category, dairy’s been beat. Almond milk, especially the vanilla flavor, is perfect in coffee, tea, and oatmeal. It adds a little sweet while having less fat than regular milk.
Ground Turkey vs. Ground Beef
The beauty about this health-swap is you literally sacrifice nothing in the taste department; in fact, I think ground turkey tastes better. Ground beef has an extraordinary amount of fat that could be easily eliminated with the switch to turkey. I have used it in tacos, pasta, chili, lettuce wraps, and many more recipes, and it’s been a winner in all.
Spaghetti Squash vs. Noodles
I’m an Italian girl raised on good ‘ole Italian cooking, so when I heard talk about how pasta isn’t totally good for you, I plugged my ears and murmured “La la la la la” to myself. But when my mom made spaghetti with squash instead of noodles, I became a believer and a convert. Most of the taste is in the sauce anyways, so using spaghetti squash gives you the flavor you want while removing the carbs you don’t.
As the holidays get closer, using these healthy and tasty alternatives will allow you more room for the stuff that really matters: pie.