Like a lot of Collegiettes, I try to be cautious about what I eat, but I admit that consistently eating healthy can sometimes be a struggle. The salad from Lower you have for lunch every day and the chicken breast and side of quinoa salad you have for dinner every night can only keep you feeling satiated for so long, right? It’s important to remember that even if you’re making an effort to “be healthy,” you can still enjoy your favorite less-healthy foods in moderation.
Even so, I feel there are times I want to treat myself to a less healthy food, but also want to avoid overindulging. What’s a solution to this? Try a better-for-you alternative version of the food you’re craving! Here are a few recipes to try out. These healthy spin-offs just go to show how you can incorporate foods that are typically thought of as “bad for you” into your healthy, active lifestyle.
Breakfast: Oatmeal Banana No-Flour Pancakes
My mom often made these for me growing up, and I promise they’re delicious. And so easy to make! These pancakes avoid using flour, butter, and pretty much everything else “bad for you” that you would find in a premade pancake mix.
How to: Mash two bananas in a bowl, and stir in a cup of oatmeal. Make sure the paste is thick enough so that you can flip it. Cook pancakes as normal in a Teflon pan.
Snack: Whole Wheat English Muffin with Bananas and Natural Peanut Butter
This is such a simple idea that it can’t really be considered a “recipe,” but it’s a great alternative to the peanut butter sandwiches on white bread you probably ate as a kid. This snack is packed with protein, whole grains, and a serving of fruit. The combination of protein and carbohydrates will keep you full until your next meal.
How to: Spread peanut butter (buy a peanut butter that doesn’t contain partially hydrogenated oils) on a whole wheat English muffin. Top with banana slices.
Dessert: Honey Cinnamon Almond Butter Apples
I’ll have to thank my cousin for this recipe later, but I just have to say that I was amazed by how good these apples were. This low-calorie dessert tastes better than apple pie. No joke.
How to: Wash and core four apples. Drizzle apples with honey and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon. Put them on a foiled pan and sprinkle water on the pan, so they don’t stick. Pre-heat the oven to 450° and bake the apples for 45 minutes. After baking, smother the apples in almond butter.