Recipe

4 Ways to Make Your Favorite Junk Foods Healthier

By Blair Baker at Emory University

We all know the cravings. The late night urges to devoir a pint of ice cream, the stress-induced need for French fries, the need to fill the spaghetti-sized hole in your heart, and the Sunday morning hangover cure of pancakes. The problem with these cravings is the calories that come with them. There's always been a struggle between fulfilling the craving and wanting your favorite skinny jeans to fit, but not anymore. Healthy versions of your favorite junk food, could it be? Have our prayers been answered? Yes they have, by me. 

Banana Ice Cream

  • Cook Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 5 mins
  • Servings: 2
Ingredients
  • 2 ripe bananas chopped and frozen

Blair Baker

Step 1

Put the bananas in a blender, blend until smooth. Be patient and scrape down the edges as necessary.

Blair Baker

Step 2

Add your favorite topping and enjoy!

Blair Baker

Healthy Banana Pancakes

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Servings: 2
Ingredients
  • 1 cup oats
  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Blair Baker

Step 1

Blend bananas and milk until smooth.

Blair Baker

Step 2

Add the rest of the ingredients and blend.

Blair Baker

Step 3

Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and allow the batter to thicken.

Blair Baker

Step 4

Fry evenly spaced spoonfuls of the batter until golden brown. Add blueberries or chocolate chips if desired.

Blair Baker

Step 5

Serve warm with your topping of choice.

Blair Baker

Sweet Potato Fries

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 large sweet potatoes
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper
  • cinnamon optional

Blair Baker

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400ºF and cut the sweet potatoes into fry-sized wedges

Blair Baker

Step 2

Toss the wedges in the oil, then season with salt, pepper, and cinnamon.
Spray a baking sheet and arrange a single layer.

Blair Baker

Step 3

Bake for 25 min or until golden brown. Toss throughout the baking time. Serve and enjoy!

Blair Baker

Spaghetti Squash

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Servings: 2
Ingredients
  • 2-3 lb spaghetti squash
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper

Blair Baker

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375ºF and cut the spaghetti squash in half. Scoop out the seeds, drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Blair Baker

Step 2

Place squash face down on baking sheet and bake 35-45 min, until tender.

Blair Baker

Step 3

Let the squash cool and scrape out the inside, going with the grain, to expose, long, spaghetti like strands.

Blair Baker

Step 4

Add a cheese sauce for a mac and cheese dish or pesto for a healthier pasta dish. Serve while warm.

Blair Baker