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5 healthy alternatives to your favourite snack foods

The same great taste, only healthier. - by Laura Barry
  • 18 Oct 2018
5 healthy alternatives to your favourite snack foods

Whether you find yourself struggling against the 3pm sugar craving, or a late night salty chip fix is your weakness, everybody has a favourite food that they turn to in times of need – ‘times of need’ being busy weekdays or nights when you need an easy meal, fast.

Many of us turn to frozen pizza, a pack of chips or a soda from the office vending machine for a quick fix, but there are plenty of healthy food options that are equally delicious, equally easy and just as fast to pull together.  Accredited practising dietitian and nutritionist Lyndi Cohen has given us five healthy alternatives to your favourite snack foods, so you don’t have to go without. Just as easy and tasty, but a whole lot less bad for you.

1. Swap sausages and cold meat for minced meat

Many people get sausages and cold meats as a quick and convenient source of meat but these foods are incredibly high in sodium and saturated fat. While you might have sausages occasionally at a BBQ, choose minced meat during the week. Add a tin of lentil to stretch your minced meat even further. Compared with sausages and cold meat, minced meat is a much leaner and healthier option.

minced meat
Getty

2. Swap frozen pizza for easy stir-fried rice

You can make healthy stir-fried rice faster and cheaper than you can buy a frozen meal or pizza. Use convenient shelf stable ingredients like SunRice SuperGrains, along with frozen peas, corn and carrot. Add an egg and some fish sauce for comforting meal that’s as quick and easy as it is nutritious.

stir fried rice
Getty

3. Swap soft drinks for soda water

Soft drinks are one of the few foods in the supermarket that contribute no nutritional value.  While the dollar value might be low, soft drinks are a non-essential grocery item so by not regularly buying soft drinks you’re saving money. To help break the habit, try swapping to soda water. If you can’t do without a sweet drink and need to a stepping stone, try mixing half and half 100% fruit juice with soda water.

soda water with cucumber
Getty

4. Swap salty chips for snack sized popcorn

It’s nice to be able to include a delicious option in the kids’ lunchbox or to snack on something salty when the craving strikes but swapping chips with popcorn is a simple healthier choice. While chips are high in saturated fat, sodium and don’t add much nutritional value, popcorn is high in fibre and a much healthier choice.

bowl of popcorn on yellow background
Getty

5. Swap sugary cereals for oats or breakfast biscuits

Many breakfast cereals are marketed as a healthy option but many contain high levels of sodium and sugar without contributing much fibre.  Oats are an incredibly cheap and versatile breakfast alternative. Sweeten oats with a drizzle of honey or add dried fruit to make your own muesli, and control the sweetness. Breakfast biscuits with a drizzle of honey are also another fantastic and affordable option.

oats with fruit
Getty

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  • Food
  • Health
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

5 Of The Best Substitutes For Coconut Oil

5 Of The Best Substitutes For Coconut Oil

Adding healthy food to your diet is more crucial than cutting out junk

Adding healthy food to your diet is more crucial than cutting out junk

Everything you need to know about corn syrup

Everything you need to know about corn syrup

Making sense of food labels and nutrition panels

Making sense of food labels and nutrition panels

{headline}

{headline}

Gluten in the diet lowers risk of type 2 diabetes – study shows

Gluten in the diet lowers risk of type 2 diabetes – study shows

What to eat when you want to lose weight

What to eat when you want to lose weight

10 healthy eating hacks to try!

10 healthy eating hacks to try!

{headline}

{headline}

Eat more brain food!

Eat more brain food!

Superfood superstars!

Superfood superstars!

Braised lamb shoulder with mash

Braised lamb shoulder with mash

A gardener’s cookbook from a cook’s garden

A gardener’s cookbook from a cook’s garden

Freezer-friendly lunch box ideas

Freezer-friendly lunch box ideas

10 of the best new superfoods to try today

10 of the best new superfoods to try today

Chicken, Pearl & Barley Risotto

Chicken, Pearl & Barley Risotto

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