5 Healthier and Very Edible Food Substitutes

Yes, we’re still on the ‘eating healthier’ drive! Personally, I understand how eating healthier isn’t very appealing. Sometimes, I look at some of the healthy options and I ask myself “Why so tasteless though?”. Eating healthy should be fun and enjoyable.

Food substitutes, healthier or not, should be just as good, or even better, than what you’re substituting taste-wise.

This is why I’ve compiled a short list of simple food substitutions you can make today for a happier, healthier you –

Sweet Potato Fries ↔ French Fries

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I love boiled sweet potatoes. They’re definitely sweeter than the Irish potatoes and I love me some sweets. Fried sweet potatoes, I wasn’t a fan of until recently. I didn’t fancy how hard they get when you fry them because it just makes it difficult to eat. I recently discovered you don’t have to fry them that hard for them to be edible and my life has changed ever since. Let it be said that both types of potatoes are healthy and it is how you prepare and eat them that actually seriously affects your health. If you want to nitpick about details though, here is a table from Precision Nutrition that breaks down nutritional facts.

Fresh Diced Tomatoes ↔ Tomato Sauce

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Some people think I’m weird because I actually eat raw tomatoes. Not only are these fruit-vegetables very delicious, they also prevent some types of cancer, are packed with vitamins C, e, and A, and also improve eyesight which is a bonus for me. Tomatoes also have a lot of other health benefits people aren’t really in the know about, like the fact that cooked tomatoes increases the production of lycopenein in breast milk. It’s easier to just pick up a can of tomato sauce from the store, but it’s definitely better to just make your own sauce right at home with a few diced tomatoes. Fresh is usually healthier because only God knows all the preservatives that go into the ones at the store. In some cases, you might just be using thickened colouring and flavouring.

Fruit Water ↔ Fruit Juice

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What is fruit water? You know when you cut up fruit and put it in a glass/jug of water for a while before drinking it? That’s how to make fruit water, also known as infused water. A lot of people may perceive this as just a passing trend, but, even if it is, it’s a healthier one. As it turns out, fruit juice – fresh or store bought – is actually loaded with a lot of sugar which will eventually just become fat in your body. It’s also very heavy and takes a lot of time to make. A faster option is fruit water which actually uses less fruits to make, is faster, and tastes pretty awesome. If you’re also trying to get yourself to drink more water, this is a win-win way to keep things interesting.

Pita Bread ↔ Sliced Bread

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If you don’t already know, pita bread is the ‘wrap’ used in making shawarma. I fell in love with this a while ago – as far back as the early 2000s. There are few things I love more than indulging in some pita bread and garlic sauce. Truth be told, both pita bread and the regular bread both have advantages and disadvantages health-wise. A comparison shows that 100g of pita bread contains more calories and fat than the same measure of white bread, but it also has less fat and more protein. Once you factor in the fact that you will be eating this bread with a dip or spread or as a sandwich, it’s up to you to determine which is healthier. Personally, I prefer the less fat alternative.

Mashed Avocado ↔ Mayonnaise

If you haven’t yet has avocado with bread, you;re on a long thing. This one is usually hard for me because I’m a fan of them both and mayonnaise is usually more readily available. I’m almost absolutely certain I don’t need to explain to  you why mashed avocados are healthier, but I will just in case. Avocados have a good amount of proven health benefits which include being packed wit nutrients (vitamins K, E, B5, B6,C) in considerable quantities,being loaded with fiber, and  lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Mayyonaise may be delicious, but can it d any of these?