Junk food has become an indispensable part of our daily life. No matter how hard we try, we cannot eliminate it completely. There is no denying that our lifestyle includes too much junk food. And sometimes there is no escape, probably when you go out socializing, traveling, or when you don’t have time to cook. Even those FEW occasions count when you really crave junk food but don’t want to ruin your diet or workout.
So what to do in these cases? Stay hungry? No.
What you can do is opt for relatively healthy foods if you don’t have options. You can eat them without feeling guilty, but remember that these foods should be a last resort, not a frequent or daily meal.
Can’t you boycott junk food? You can replace the worst with the best
Dark chocolate
Fancy some chocolate? Of course you can. But not milk chocolate, but dark chocolate. Yes, dark chocolate may be bitter, but it is good for your health. The reason is that it has less sugar and few calories. Plus, dark chocolate provides antioxidants. It also has iron, fiber, and magnesium. It may not be the healthiest, but it is HEALTHIER than white chocolate.
Popcorn
Craving chips? Eat popcorn instead. Popcorn is popped, not fried. So, the first thing is to cut down on oil. Secondly, popcorn is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and other ingredients. However, you need to be mindful of how much you eat and where you eat it. If you have a habit of buying a bucket full of popcorn at the cinema, you should know that it has a very strong taste, which makes it unhealthy and not good for you.
Air fried chops
Are you craving pakoras but afraid that they are extremely unhealthy and full of oil? Don’t worry, you can make air fried pakoras. Although air fryers use some oil, it is very little. Thus, you significantly cut down on extra oil and calories, while also soothing your taste buds. Consider investing in an air fryer if you don’t have one. Foods prepared in it are a healthy replacement for those cooked in cups of oil.
flavored yogurt
Fancy some ice cream? You can opt for flavoured yoghurt. Yes, flavoured yoghurt has added sugar, but it is less compared to ice cream. You can enjoy mango or strawberry flavoured yoghurts just like flavoured ice creams. They taste similar and are healthier.
Dosa Sambhar/Idli Sambhar
Are you going out to eat with friends or family? Well, if you have to order something, you can go for dosa sambhar or idli sambhar. They are healthier than maida roti/naan, burgers and fries. Look for South Indian food options on the menu or go to a South Indian restaurant if there are options.
Pasta with red sauce
Do you have to choose between pasta with white sauce and pasta with red sauce? Your taste buds may lean towards the former, but what if we told you that pasta with red sauce is healthier? It doesn’t contain any extra calories from fat or cream like pasta with white sauce. If there’s a wheat pasta option, all the better.
Baked potato
Potatoes are the queen of foods. No one has ever hated them and no one will ever hate them. How about enjoying their goodness in a healthy way? We are talking about baked potatoes. They are baked, not fried in oil. Therefore, the consumption of oil and extra calories is reduced.
Corn Chaat
Picture this: You have burger and pizza stalls in front of you, but in the middle is a sweetcorn stall. Which one would you choose? If you want to eat unhealthy food, you will choose burgers and pizza. But if you want to eat healthy and cut calories, you will choose the sweetcorn stall. The chaat stall is much healthier than any of the establishments you will see in the mall.
Beer
Were you out drinking with your mates? You don’t have to become antisocial to follow a healthy lifestyle. Instead, you can control your portions. Instead of downing 5 cans of beer, just have one and you’ll be fine and won’t go over your calorie limit. However, be careful of the extra snacks you have with the drinks as they are high in calories.
Sweet potato chips
We get it, you love French fries. You crave some, but you know deep down that they are not healthy. Yes, the plain French fries that are prepared in restaurants are prepared using utensils filled with reused oil. A big NO for heart health and your weight loss plan. Instead, you can opt for sweet potato fries or chaat that you can make at home. If you know a sweet potato stall near you, that is also a good option.
Final thoughts
As we have said, you don’t have to lock yourself up at home if you want to avoid junk food. If not and you are just desperately craving junk food or are in a bad mood, you can opt for the junk foods listed below which are healthier and not the worst. So go ahead and enjoy these foods but try not to overeat. Portion control is the way to go.
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