Everyone knows about the importance of eating clean, whole foods when trying to maintain a healthy diet. However, it’s way easier said than done. When you’re in the mood for something sweet or salty, eating carrots will not be able satisfy you in the same way that licking your cheese-dusted fingers will. Snacking is unavoidable, and quite honestly, totally okay. Your body tends to crave certain foods when it’s lacking in nutrients, so quitting your nibbles cold-turkey could actually have detrimental effects.
These snack substitutions will actually fulfill the desires of your greedy tastebuds without all of the preservatives, artificial flavorings, and sodium found in traditional junk foods.
Zevia for Diet Coke
Photo by Faith Horbatch
If you’re a calorie counter, this swap is worth your while. Zevia is still 0 cals like Diet Coke, but it is sweetened naturally with a plant called stevia. It’s available in tons of flavors as well, if Diet Coke isn’t your kryptonite like it is mine.
Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese for Easy Mac
Photo by Faith Horbatch
“No artificial flavors, no synthetic colors, no synthetic preservatives, no GMOs, no growth hormones, no persistent pesticides” – aka no reason to opt for Easy Mac.
Nut Thins for Ritz Crackers
Photo by Faith Horbatch
The crunchier, nuttier, healthier partner for your cheese.
Earth Balance Puffs for Cheetos Puffs
Photo by Faith Horbatch
A finger-licking worthy, plant-based alternative. However, you might miss the Yellow 6 dye in Cheetos (or not).
Lundberg Farms Brown Rice Cakes for English Muffins
Photo by Faith Horbatch
Try with jelly, cream cheese and strawberries, or peanut butter and banana for a crunchier way to spice up your typical breakfast. And the only ingredient, brown rice, has some insane health benefits (like high fiber) that will set your mornings off with a bang.
Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups for Reese’s
Photo by Faith Horbatch
With the same taste but also the antioxidants of dark chocolate and the naturally made peanut butter, you’ll be cheating on Reese’s with your new lover, Justin.
Banana Babies for Fudge Bars
Photo by Faith Horbatch
So yes, you are eating a fruit for dessert, but these chocolate-dipped bananas are creamy and sugary enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. And hey, now you won’t have to lie to Mom next time she asks if you’re eating your fruits and veggies.
Coconut Aminos for Soy Sauce
Photo by Faith Horbatch
You might not have known you should even be looking for this swap, but soy sauce actually contains high levels of estrogen, sodium, gluten, goitrogens, and enzyme inhibitors. Coconut aminos either have significantly less or lacks all of these, and it is an easy way to get more vitamins into your favorite stir fry, salad, or rice dishes.
Walden Farms Buttermilk Ranch for Hidden Valley Ranch
Photo by Faith Horbatch
A zero-calorie dressing for your cheesy bread dipping needs, because I know we are all worried about calories when we’re shoving pizza down our throats.
Food Should Taste Good Barbecue Sweet Potato Chips for Lays Barbecue Chips
Photo by Faith Horbatch
Sweet potatoes give you high amounts of vitamins A and C, which you need – so you kind of need to be eating these BBQ chips… Right?
Somersaults for Teddy Grahams
Photo by Faith Horbatch
These cinnamon, seedy bites allow you to hop on the sunflower seed health-bandwagon, because fun fact – Whole Food’s has ranked sunflower seeds as the #1 healthiest food in the nut and seed category.
PB2 for Peanut Butter
Photo by Faith Horbatch
Though powdered peanut butter doesn’t sound like the best idea in the world, this 3-ingredient alternative definitely beats out Jiff in the health department. You add water yourself instead of oil like normal peanut butter. With 85% less fat calories, it’s worth the weird looks you might get from your roommates seeing you “make” your own peanut butter.
Arctic Zero for Edy’s Ice Cream
Photo by Faith Horbatch
The only ice cream that will ever be recommended as a post-workout snack. You’ll never have to feel ashamed finishing off a pint alone with some flavors of Arctic Zero coming in at only 150 cals (hey, maybe even go for a second?). A perfect dairy free, GMO free, fat free dessert to round out a meal.
Amy’s Pocket Sandwiches for Hot Pockets
Photo by Faith Horbatch
Hot pockets are the laziest of all foods, and I know it’s hard, but you can pop an organic, hand-made Amy’s frozen sandwich in the microwave instead. I believe in you.
We all know that cutting out junk food is not realistic, and if you avoid or restrict your cravings, odds are that you’ll gorge later, end up lacking in nutrition, or even develop disordered eating thoughts. But never fear, swapping in these more wholesome choices can aid you in the quest for a new, healthier lifestyle.