Health & Fitness

My Top 5 Healthy Alternative Foods and Drinks! (Mostly foods)

I know I know. Food is awesome and sometimes it is hard to find a healthy solution without causing so much change! However, I found 5 healthier food and drink options that taste just as good and possibly even better than all those fattening and junk foods! I have to give partial credit to my sister's mother-in-law. She is in her mid-60's and a size 2! She told me some tips on how to maintain a healthy and beautiful weight.


1) Club Soda (Carbonated Water) with Cranberry Juice Cocktail.



My Top 5 Healthy Alternative Foods and Drinks! (Mostly foods)


Don't like cranberry juice? No problem! You can use a different all-natural fruit juice!


Fact: Did you know a can of soda contains 140 calories, on average? That's adds up, quickly and that is just average!


Fact: Average calories in an 8-ounce cup of juice is about 112. Not really a big difference but juice is much healthier for you.


You won't be even drinking 8-ounces of juice! because half of it will be carbonated water, which contains... 0 Calories. That's right, 0.


2) Spaghetti Squash with Marinara or Vodka Sauce.







After you bake it, the inside of the squash looks almost identical to spaghetti noodles. Growing boys who don't normally like fruits or vegetables actually prefer my spaghetti squash over regular noodles! Noodles is just a starch so there is really no nutritional value. Spaghetti squash however has a lot of vitamins and minerals packed into it! You can purchase one at your local market. On sauces? I usually get an Organic brand (preferably Vodka sauce from Trader Joe's) Any one will do with what's convenient with you! Make sure to let the Spaghetti Squash ripen for 4-5 days after purchase.


* How to make Spaghetti Squash:


1) Heat oven to 375 degrees.


2) Make sure to remove the seeds. Brush the inside of each half with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper.


3) Place cut sides down on a rimmed baking sheet and put sheet into the oven.


4) Bake for about 40 minutes, or until you can easily pierce the squash with a fork.


5) I then spoon out the spaghetti squash into the pan of sauce of your choosing. Mix and stir until its warm or hot.


3) Cauliflower Mash with Brown Gravy and Mushrooms




All mashed potato fans!! Who doesn't love this delicate comfort food? Well guess what, potatoes are a starch which packs in a lot of carbs. Even though potatoes are a vegetable, doesn't mean that they are perfectly healthy for you. Cauliflower on the other hand ;) I am not really going to go into all the nutritional facts. Just know that it has a lot of Vitamin C, dietary fiber and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. I actually think it taste better than mashed potatoes! Add a little bit of garlic, butter, and brown gravy with mushrooms. Muah! This is a recipe where you can add YOUR own rules to the mix. Heck, if you don't like garlic or gravy, you don't have to use it!


* How to make Cauliflower Mash:


1) Cover and turn the heat to medium.


2) Cook the cauliflower for 12-15 minutes or until very tender.


3) Drain and discard all of the water (the drier the cauliflower is, the better)


4) Add the milk, butter, sour cream, salt and pepper and mash with a masher until it looks like "mashed potatoes."


For gravy: I just buy McCormick Gluten-Free Brown Gravy and add cooked mushrooms to the mix.


Mashed Potatoes - Dee Dee Sharp (Just a little classic)




4) Use Honey Rather than Maple Syrup





Annnnnd we are not talkin' about Honey Boo Boo :)


Now, I am not bagging on Pure Maple Syrup at all. It is good for you but Honey is a little bit better. I always get Turkish Clover honey but if you can;t find that then Clover Honey will be just fine. I put honey on my pancakes and waffles! It taste just as good. Between Honey and Pure Maple Syrup, there is no signifcant difference in Calories or carbohydrates. Honey contains no fat and only a tablespoon of pure maple syrup contains 0.1 grams (barely anything). However, Honey has a much higher content of vitamins than pure maple syrup does. Sorry, Aunt Jemima. Just know that it has a great amount of Vitamin C and B-6 (Maple syrup does not contain either of those 2).


5) Sweet Potato Fries as a desert!



Put down the chocolate cake and try this :) Cut the sweet potato into a thick french fry shape and add some brown sugar & cinnamon. Just a note, brown sugar is way better for you than white sugar. Same goes for brown rice, it is healthier for you than white rice. Anyways... Bake them in the oven and you just have yourself a tasty treat. Sweet potatoes are good for ya! No need to explain how it is better for you than chocolate cake.



Tips to maintaining a healthy and slender weight!


1) Drink a glass of water before your meal and take your time when you eat.


"The better you chew your food, the easier it digests"


2) Have a maximum weight limit to not go over. I call it the "uh-oh" weight. My personal weight that I do NOT want to go over is 126.5 pounds. If I weigh myself during the day and I am 126.5 or a little over, full on diet for the next 2 days!


3) Cut out a lot of carbs (potatoes and bread) This stuff makes you gain weight like crazy.


4) Instead of fried/breaded foods, eat grilled instead!


5) Drink water with fresh lemon sqeezed into it over soda or flavored beverages.


6) Exercise! Even if you're walking in the grocery mart or mall, walk-run. Sounds funny but that is a simple exercise and I do that almost everywhere I go.


7) Remember to have fun, it is okay to have those splurge days or eating an ice cream in moderation. Just remember that a little change can make a difference.


My Top 5 Healthy Alternative Foods and Drinks! (Mostly foods)
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