Best Food Swaps
jensauce
Posts: 150 Member
I just discovered a somewhat healthy way to curb my chocolate cravings. I've been using it for the last week and a half with great success (I've avoided chocolate all together).
1/4 of raisins.
Lots of sugar still but it has got to be better than chocolate, right?
1/4 of raisins.
Lots of sugar still but it has got to be better than chocolate, right?
0
Replies
-
Chocolate covered raisins, even better!!0
-
queenliz99 wrote: »Chocolate covered raisins, even better!!
Lol!0 -
Or you could have a small piece of chocolate. Chocolate isn't bad for you and raisins have added sugars.0
-
I'm sorry but that doesn't seem like a great substitute. You could have a little dark chocolate, or mix some cocoa powder in greek yogurt, a couple servings of chocolate frozen yogurt...0
-
Chocolate with at least 70% cacao has health benefits. Small portions, not a whole bar. It's very satisfying.0
-
I've been eating one McVities chocolate digestive biscuit about 4 or 5 days a week for a little while now. I really like them, and the little bit of chocolate is just right.
http://www.mcvities.co.uk/products/chocolate-digestives0 -
I like raisins, but if I want chocolate I'm going to have chocolate. One square of the bag I buy is 60 calories.0
-
Plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, helps meet my protein macros and I can't taste a difference.
When I'm in the mood for cookies, I look up a recipe using blanched almond flour and honey instead of flour and sugar for extra nutrients. Different texture, but my family enjoys it all the same.
Light unsweetened almond milk(40 calories) in place of organic 1% milk (which is 110 calories) mixed in with my protein shake.
Turkey bacon and turkey pepperoni instead of regular bacon and pepperoni, less calories.
Hebrew Natuonal reduced fat turkey hot dogs, only 45 calories, instead of regular hotdogs.
Almond oil over canola, Brown rice instead of white.
Those are just a few of the many lower calorie/healthier substitutions I use. I'd love to hear substitutions that other people use.
0 -
Or you could have a small piece of chocolate. Chocolate isn't bad for you and raisins have added sugars.
No added sugars in raisins. They are simply dried grapes.
I will be using turnip instead of potato this week though both are good. The turnip I believe will come out with more fiber.
0 -
I just made cauliflower rice tonight instead of using my regular brown rice. 1 cup was about 27 calories, just a few net carbs and very filling!0
-
Optimistical1 wrote: »Those are just a few of the many lower calorie/healthier substitutions I use. I'd love to hear substitutions that other people use.
I found I felt really hungry, and in particular, was craving potato chips after work. For me, if I'm craving potato chips, I'm not going to have 6 or 8 of them and then put the package away ... I'm going to eat the whole package.
So I gave it some thought and checked my nutrient levels, and it turns out, my sodium levels tend to be really low. I eat a lot of fruit, veg, brown rice, chicken and yogurt ... and not a whole lot of salt.
Therefore, after work when I felt really hungry, I started eating 100 grams of cottage cheese with either a dill pickle or sliced cucumbers, well-salted. That did it! Potato chip craving gone. I've gone on to add a few other raw veggies after work plus ... from time to time ... well-salted radishes, and/or lightly-salted snow peas or raw cabbage. Whatever we happen to have in the fridge, and whatever I'm in the mood for. But it all adds up to about 100 calories for an after-work snack rather than the hundreds of calories a bag of chips would be. Cottage cheese and raw veggies are probably also healthier than a bag of chips.
0 -
I'm all about substitutes, but there aren't many substitutes for chocolate... But at least I enjoy dark chocolate just as well.0
-
I like substituting ground turkey in chili instead of beef. Also I have become a big fan of turkey pepperoni instead of the high fat pepperoni.0
-
I just discovered a somewhat healthy way to curb my chocolate cravings. I've been using it for the last week and a half with great success (I've avoided chocolate all together).
1/4 of raisins.
Lots of sugar still but it has got to be better than chocolate, right?
Better in terms of what? Chocolate is actually very healthy, especially dark chocolate. Without going into detail about its antioxidant properties, it's the perfect companion for exercise because it contains minerals that help keep your electrolytes balanced.
Now my personal substitutes: whenever I make pasta I replace about 1/3 of the pasta with zucchini "pasta", I use whole milk instead of cream in chai tea, replaced most of my sugar with sweetener and most of my rice with bulgur, buckwheat or freekeh (I have no idea why I didn't make the switch earlier, every single one of these is superior to rice in flavor.)0 -
If you eat too much chocolate and you like raisins, I think that's a great idea. I can see the flavour connection. Dates, prunes, and figs are sort of in a similar taste family to me, too (although watch out for too many prunes! Dangerous stuff!) And coffee. But have some chocolate now and then though, it's great for iron, too (if dark chocolate).
I'm trying to eat more kinds of meat than just beef, which is what I feel like eating most evenings, that feels like a substitution, I guess.0 -
arditarose wrote: »I'm sorry but that doesn't seem like a great substitute. You could have a little dark chocolate, or mix some cocoa powder in greek yogurt, a couple servings of chocolate frozen yogurt...
I have tried that but usually if I eat anything chocolaty I usually end up binging ...hardcore. lol.
With the raisins I limit it to 1/4 serving every time.
Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks for the constructive criticism! 0 -
arditarose wrote: »I'm sorry but that doesn't seem like a great substitute. You could have a little dark chocolate, or mix some cocoa powder in greek yogurt, a couple servings of chocolate frozen yogurt...
I have tried that but usually if I eat anything chocolaty I usually end up binging ...hardcore. lol.
With the raisins I limit it to 1/4 serving every time.
Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks for the constructive criticism!
I know. I have a couple of things that get me binge-y too. Recently I found these 100 calorie packs of keebler elf fudge cookies. I've been eating them as is or throwing them in greek yogurt/low calorie ice cream. I'm a high volume eater so I don't give too many suggestions out because my favorites are often poo-pooed on these threads.
0 -
Or you could have a small piece of chocolate. Chocolate isn't bad for you and raisins have added sugars.
No added sugars in raisins. They are simply dried grapes.
I will be using turnip instead of potato this week though both are good. The turnip I believe will come out with more fiber.
Turnips get a bad rap. I love them! Just coat turnips, carrots, and onions in olive oil, bake for 20 to 40 minutes or so ( depending on the size of your chops) at 350 degrees and it's an amazing and easy side dish imho
0 -
rachelpauline93 wrote: »I just made cauliflower rice tonight instead of using my regular brown rice. 1 cup was about 27 calories, just a few net carbs and very filling!
That sounds delicious! I am going to try that! Thanks for your tip! 0 -
rachelpauline93 wrote: »I just made cauliflower rice tonight instead of using my regular brown rice. 1 cup was about 27 calories, just a few net carbs and very filling!
That sounds delicious! I am going to try that! Thanks for your tip!arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »I'm sorry but that doesn't seem like a great substitute. You could have a little dark chocolate, or mix some cocoa powder in greek yogurt, a couple servings of chocolate frozen yogurt...
I have tried that but usually if I eat anything chocolaty I usually end up binging ...hardcore. lol.
With the raisins I limit it to 1/4 serving every time.
Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks for the constructive criticism!
I know. I have a couple of things that get me binge-y too. Recently I found these 100 calorie packs of keebler elf fudge cookies. I've been eating them as is or throwing them in greek yogurt/low calorie ice cream. I'm a high volume eater so I don't give too many suggestions out because my favorites are often poo-pooed on these threads.
Well I welcome them, so feel free to PM me, I won't judge
0 -
Oh I made shirataki fettucini and chick alfredo tonight for 390 calories. Serving was so big I ate it out of a mixing bowl.0
-
arditarose wrote: »I'm sorry but that doesn't seem like a great substitute. You could have a little dark chocolate, or mix some cocoa powder in greek yogurt, a couple servings of chocolate frozen yogurt...
I have tried that but usually if I eat anything chocolaty I usually end up binging ...hardcore. lol.
With the raisins I limit it to 1/4 serving every time.
Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks for the constructive criticism!
If raisins work for you as a replacement then great! But if they stop working try very dark chocolate. I buy it at 90%, or 80% if they don't have 90% available. It's so rich and nicely bitter that you can't eat it fast, and by the time you are done you will be surprised that it only takes a square or two to satisfy you. It's like magic to me!0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »If raisins work for you as a replacement then great! But if they stop working try very dark chocolate. I buy it at 90%, or 80% if they don't have 90% available. It's so rich and nicely bitter that you can't eat it fast, and by the time you are done you will be surprised that it only takes a square or two to satisfy you. It's like magic to me!
I especially enjoy the aftertaste of some really dark chocolate! After only a couple of bites, the aftertaste reminds me of the (good) feeling after devouring milk chocolate. But with milk chocolate, it's so easy to go overboard and maybe get a little nauseous
0 -
melonaulait wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »If raisins work for you as a replacement then great! But if they stop working try very dark chocolate. I buy it at 90%, or 80% if they don't have 90% available. It's so rich and nicely bitter that you can't eat it fast, and by the time you are done you will be surprised that it only takes a square or two to satisfy you. It's like magic to me!
I especially enjoy the aftertaste of some really dark chocolate! After only a couple of bites, the aftertaste reminds me of the (good) feeling after devouring milk chocolate. But with milk chocolate, it's so easy to go overboard and maybe get a little nauseous
Exactly! That lingering taste is what does it. You can get an explosion of taste even from the tiniest bites! Some people may need to work their way up the darkness ladder. A while ago I offered some 90% chocolate to a friend, and watching her facial expressions was interesting to say the least. Her eyes disappeared and her face made the most amusing shapes, then she said "no thank you, I will stick to milk chocolate"0 -
http://smilesandwich.com/2014/12/15/cheesy-spaghetti-squash-casserole/
If I'm craving something greasy and cheesy. Calories are pretty low per serving and it tastes like you're eating something really indulgent.0 -
speaking of spaghetti squash, scroll down to the taco bake. Its freaking amazing. http://www.hungry-girl.com/weekly-recipes/show/2507-healthy-pasta-recipes-veggie-spaghetti-taco-spaghetti-squash-bake0
-
I second (third and fourth) a good quality dark chocolate. Depending on the bar I buy it's 50 cals a square - I usually eat two and my sweet tooth is satisfied. For those salty chip cravings I like to make popcorn with a teeny bit of coconut oil and some salt and nutritional yeast on top after it's popped. I also recently discovered something called Veggie Straws Healthy Portions (or something like that) and you can have quite a few for a serving and it banished my salty craving. Oh yeah, and a large caramel flavoured rice cake with a smear of peanut butter is a good "dessert" too for about 120 cals.0
-
nothing wrong with chocolate...dark chocolate in fact is packed with awesome nutrition.0
-
CandiceMcD wrote: »speaking of spaghetti squash, scroll down to the taco bake. Its freaking amazing. http://www.hungry-girl.com/weekly-recipes/show/2507-healthy-pasta-recipes-veggie-spaghetti-taco-spaghetti-squash-bake
Sadly, I can't do Hungry Girl. Her recipes usually contain ingredients that are hard to find for me or that I don't care for (fat-free cheese is an abomination that should be formally outlawed)0 -
Usually a cup of hot cocoa or 2 squares of dark chocolate are enough for me. For the hot cocoa my favorite low calorie brand is options. I always throw a splash of soy milk in to make it creamier
0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions