What's your favorite "clean cheat" food? Share your recipes!

I've been getting really into cauliflower pizza. I've had it 2 nights in a row now! I just need to get a food processor because rice-ing cauliflower by hand is so time consuming and messy... lol

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?
  • e_falagan
    e_falagan Posts: 22 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?

    A healthier alternative to an "unhealthy" treat. (Cauliflower pizza, protein cake, zucchini pasta, etc).
  • iamthemotherofdogs
    iamthemotherofdogs Posts: 562 Member
    I make pizzas with whole wheat tortillas for the crust, crushed tomatoes for the sauce and some shredded cheese and whatever toppings. Light on the cheese. It's super satisfying but doesn't ruin my day.
  • KarenSmith2018
    KarenSmith2018 Posts: 302 Member
    I love caulirice instead of regular rice sometimes. It is worth taking note that sometimes "healthy swaps" can be just as calorie filled as the original (i am looking at you protein pancake!!)
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    e_falagan wrote: »
    malibu927 wrote: »
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?

    A healthier alternative to an "unhealthy" treat. (Cauliflower pizza, protein cake, zucchini pasta, etc).

    Why is regular pizza with a traditional flour based crust, unhealthy?
  • clicketykeys
    clicketykeys Posts: 6,575 Member
    edited October 2017
    malibu927 wrote: »
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?
    e_falagan wrote: »
    [A healthier alternative to an "unhealthy" treat. (Cauliflower pizza, protein cake, zucchini pasta, etc).
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    e_falagan wrote: »
    malibu927 wrote: »
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?

    A healthier alternative to an "unhealthy" treat. (Cauliflower pizza, protein cake, zucchini pasta, etc).

    Why is regular pizza with a traditional flour based crust, unhealthy?

    I am guessing that OP means an edited version of a food that doesn't easily fit into your goals, due to calorie density, macro split, or food intolerance or allergy, so that you can eat more of it, eat it more often, or just eat it without discomfort.

    Edited to fix formatting.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    I'm not trying to be dismissive but honestly I just eat the actual thing within my goals. So actual pizza, actual pasta (just had a 400 calorie lunch that was pasta based) and actual cake (bit trickier but on high activity days pretty easy really).

    There's not too many alternatives I do, I'm trying to think of some but can't off the top of my head. I'd personally just like to have less of the real thing or less often. But then I also don't do the "cheat" thing.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    I do like spaghetti squash. It's so low calorie compared to regular pasta that I can eat a lot more and feel really satisfied. I like eating it with a red sauce with ground beef to add some protein to the meal.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?
    e_falagan wrote: »
    [A healthier alternative to an "unhealthy" treat. (Cauliflower pizza, protein cake, zucchini pasta, etc).
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    e_falagan wrote: »
    malibu927 wrote: »
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?

    A healthier alternative to an "unhealthy" treat. (Cauliflower pizza, protein cake, zucchini pasta, etc).

    Why is regular pizza with a traditional flour based crust, unhealthy?

    I am guessing that OP means an edited version of a food that doesn't easily fit into your goals, due to calorie density, macro split, or food intolerance or allergy, so that you can eat more of it, eat it more often, or just eat it without discomfort.

    Edited to fix formatting.

    The thing is that so many people have their own definition of clean eating. That’s why I asked for the clarification.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Nothing. If I'm craving a certain food (I'm looking at you, cheeseburger), no "clean cheat" is going to work. I'll budget for the cheeseburger, instead.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I prefer to have the real deal, even if it means that I can't overeat. I don't even like to overeat, I never did, but I used to eat compulsively. Demonizing foods I like was one of the main drivers for my overeating.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    edited October 2017
    lol @ "avoid the torches and pitch forks"...

    You must be new here. Welcome to MFP.


    But more to your question... I don't go crazy with things (i.e. bananas and eggs =/= pancakes, black beans and applesauce =/= brownies... that sort of thing). But I do use the leanest ground beef I can (easier to do in some meals/recipes than others), I use turkey sausage instead of pork, I use skim milk or fairlife to keep macros more in my favor, that sort of thing.

    Probably the "craziest" I get is halo top ice cream, but only the chocolate. The other flavors aren't worth the sacrifice, IMO.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    e_falagan wrote: »
    malibu927 wrote: »
    What is your definition of a “clean cheat”?

    A healthier alternative to an "unhealthy" treat. (Cauliflower pizza, protein cake, zucchini pasta, etc).

    What makes cauliflower and a lot of cheese healthier than regular pizza crust?

    My clean cheats would be homemade over prepackaged/pre-made.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    Mrs Jruzer made homemade banana bread this weekend from scratch. No empty calories or artificial sweeteners. It went down really well with coffee on our cold, rainy weekend. Does that count?
  • MsChewMe
    MsChewMe Posts: 130 Member
    I made homemade pizza this weekend from scratch with my homegrown tomatoes, basil and cheese. I controlled the calories in it and had leftover calories for a beer or two ;)