By Marley Larue
It’s no secret that every girl adores everything about the fall season. From being able to live in cardigans, leggings, and boots, to pumpkin spiced lattes (or should I say pumpkin spiced everything), and last but not least, the DELICIOUS food that comes with the fall and holiday festivities. Unfortunately, along with all the amazing fall and winter sweets and treats, comes some added numbers you really don’t want to see when you step on that scale. But, no need to worry about that this season ladies, because we’ve got the secrets to guilt-free indulges that’ll have you enjoying your warm apple crisp while also enjoying still being able to fit into your favorite jeans without having an unsightly fall/holiday muffin top. Here are some tips of substitution to use to make sure you’re turning your fatty unhealthy food to something healthy and equally just as satisfying!
If your recipe calls for….
1.) Bread or flour – Substitute the nutrition white, bleached flour for something more substantial and beneficial to your health such as whole grain bread, whole wheat flour, gluten free bread/flour, or even almond flour! If baking, the texture may seem slightly different compared to textures of white flour baked products, but the taste is just as delicious and you’ll be getting in your daily fiber intake, it’s a win win! For those who want to avoid flour in general, ripened bananas are a great alternative for flour when baking as well.
2.) Butter, shortening oil, or margarine for baking – Believe it or not, avocado is a fantastic substitute for butter in any sort of baked of baked good. The only difference isn’t it texture or taste, but just that your Wookies will com out green. If you can’t get passed the green color result, applesauce is also a fantastic alternative to butter or margarine!
3.) Milk – Whether you’re using it for cereal, using it to dunk for cookies, baking, whatever, there are many alternatives to whole milk that are much better for you, taste great, and don’t have all of the fatty content. The best suggestion: sweetened almond milk (for baking), and unsweetened almond milk for everyday milk consumption. Almond milk is about 30 calories per serving, tastes great, and even works with boxed mac n cheese!
4.) Burgers – Who says you need to consume traditional red meat ground beef to have a tasty burger? For those who still want the meaty aspect of a burger without it having to come from a cow, turkey burgers and chicken burgers are great (and most the the time better tasting) alternatives. For vegetarians, black burgers, veggie burgers, and chickpea burgers are tasty, healthy, and get your vegetable serving for the day in just one meal!
5.) Pasta & Rice – Unless you’re getting 2 hours of cardio in daily, pasta probably isn’t going to be too beneficial to your figure (especially white pasta). For simple alternatives, whole wheat pastas and brown rice will do the trick to make it a bit healthier. But, for those feeling adventurous, gluten-free quiona is a mediterranean twist on rice that’s both better for you and even better tasting! Another adventurous twist on pasta: spaghetti squash and zucchini squash: half the calories, doesn’t make you feel grossly full after eating a bunch, and really fills you up!
6.) Sugar – whether it’s sweetening your coffee or anything you’re baking, added granulated sugar is never a healthy ingredient to put include in anything you’re making. For baking, all natural organic agave-nectar is an amazing alternative to sweetening any cookie or cake! It comes in a liquid texture, so if that freaks you out, there’s also all natural stevia! Stevia is great for coffee or adding a little sweetener to anything, it’s natural, from a tea leaf, and does the trick on sweetening whatever you want!
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