There are many reasons for wanting to clean up your diet and seek out healthy food alternatives. One of the biggest reasons is if you are obese or overweight and want to drop some pounds. According to the Mayo Clinic, being overweight can increase your risk factors for a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis and stroke. If you fall into this category or if you just want to clean up your diet, there are many healthy food alternatives.
Meats
Red meats, processed meats, meats that are deep fried and meats that are prepared in butter are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Healthy alternatives to these are lean ground beef, lean red meat, chicken breasts, white meat turkey and lean cold cuts. Fish can also be used in place of meat altogether as it is low in fat and high in protein. Game meats like venison and bison are also lean alternatives.
Soy
Soy is a source of protein made from soy beans. If you are a vegetarian or just want to avoid meat, then you can use soy. It comes in the form of tofu, which can be added to stir fries, salads and soups, and it also comes in many alternative forms of faux meat products such as lunch meat, sausage, burgers and hot dogs.
Dairy
Regular dairy products are high in fat and cholesterol. Healthy alternatives are the low-fat or fat-free versions of milk, cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt. There are also milk alternatives that can be used. These are low in fat and are enriched with the nutrients that regular milk provides. Examples include soy milk, rice milk, hemp milk, goat milk and almond milk. You can also use soy cheese and almond cheese in place of regular cheese.
Sugar
Excessive sugar in your diet can lead to excessive weight gain. It can also increase your risk for diabetes and it can lead to tooth decay. Healthy alternatives to regular sugar are stevia, honey, maple sugar, rice syrup and agave. Agave syrup comes from the nectar of a cactus.
Eggs
Eggs are a source of protein that are also high in fat and cholesterol. Although the negative hype about them has died down over the past few years, you may still want to find a healthy alternative if you are watching your calories. Egg whites and liquid egg substitutes can be used in this case.
Canned Goods
Foods that are pre-packaged and canned are often high in sodium, which can lead to water retention when eaten in high amounts. When your blood pressure is high, this can be problematic. For a healthy alternative, buy soups, frozen dinners, condiments and instant meals that are low-sodium versions.
Baked Goods
Baked goods usually require oil or butter in the recipe. Although this might make them taste good, it also makes them high in fat and calories. A healthier alternative to this is substituting the oil or butter with prune puree or applesauce. Not only are they lower in fat, but they are also higher in fiber.
Member Comments