All junk foods are not created equally. When you have a craving for sweets that a carrot stick just won't fix, you might find yourself digging through your cabinet to find something that will calm your cravings. If you must consume junk foods, looking for low-calorie options could help stop cravings without putting a major dent in your diet. As long as you exercise self control, low-calorie junk foods can be consumed in moderation from time to time.
Considerations
Unfortunately, low-calorie does not automatically mean healthy. Exercise discretion when choosing to consume low-calorie junk food. Consider the fact that orange juice has more calories than diet soda, registered dietitian Joan Salge Blake tells The Food Network. The orange juice is still a better choice because it offers nutrition that a diet soda does not.
Advantages
When you just can't seem to kick the junk food habit and constantly crave cookies, chips and candy, lower-calorie options can help you stop the cravings without completely derailing your diet. Choosing low-calorie junk foods in 100-calorie packs -- containing treats such as chips or cookies -- could help you manage portion-control problems.
Disadvantages
Most low-calorie junk foods are completely devoid of nutritional value, which means you could be loading your diet with unnecessary and empty calories. What's more, as "Allure" magazine points out to MSNBC, many junk foods are loaded with chemicals. Consuming too much low-calorie junk food could take the place of wiser diet choices with natural ingredients, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.
Types
Some types of low-calorie junk foods include baked chips, sugar-free gum and jelly beans, which are low-calorie versions of their regular counterparts. Hard candy and licorice can help you satisfy a sweet tooth without major damage, according to FitDay.
Alternatives
Instead of relying on low-calorie junk food to stop your cravings for sweets, look for sweeter, healthier foods that are more nutrient dense. Fruit is a good alternative to sweets, since it has natural sugars for flavoring. If you love starches like potato chips, try a sweet potato instead. Or, balance your low-calorie junk foods with a healthier option, suggests "Shape" magazine. Eating a piece of fruit before you indulge in junk food can help you eat less while still feeling satisfied.
Member Comments