Healthy food alternatives

Do you want to eat healthier but don’t know where to begin?

We’ve all heard that maintaining a healthy weight reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes, however getting started eating a healthier diet can be challenging. Luckily, diet changes don’t have to be drastic in order to be effective. Making a few small changes to your diet is the best way to lose weight, and it’s easier than you may think! Here’s some examples of easy food swaps to get you started:

Breakfast

Many common breakfast cereals are high in sugar, so try choosing a healthy alternative with no added sugar. If you like your cereal in the morning, try eating cereals such as wholegrain porridge, muesli or bran flakes. For added benefit, try mixing in a bit of dried fruit. If you’re going to eat some bacon or sausages for breakfast, swap the cooking method from frying to grilling to cut down on fat.

 Lunch

Swap the white bread on your sandwich for a more nutritious brown bread. Top your sandwich with some creamy avocado rather than mayo. When it comes to crisps, choose baked rather than fried. As for dessert, fruit or low-fat frozen yogurt are healthy option!

 Dinner

If you often have meat for dinner, you can reduce your fat intake by choosing leaner cuts such as streaky bacon rather than back bacon. If you prefer pasta, try swapping cheesy or creamy sauces to tomato based or other vegetable sauces. Try a leafy green salad with a simple dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead of chips for a tangy and crunchy side dish that is both filling and low in calories.

 Snacks

Ditch the biscuits and try plain popcorn instead. Popcorn is high in fibre and gives the same satisfying crunch. However, be careful not to choose popcorn that is high in added sugars. If its sweets you crave, try some frozen grapes instead. They’ll still satisfy your sweet tooth and are free from refined sugars. Additionally, as they’re frozen, they take longer to eat so you don’t end up eating more than you need to!

 Drinks

Try replacing all those sugar-filled fizzy drinks with water. Water doesn’t have to be boring- you can try sparking water and add mint, lime or fresh fruit for some flavour. When drinking coffee, try it with semi-skimmed or skimmed milk rather than whole milk.

We hope some of these healthy food swaps have taken your fancy and you try some of them out. You can even start thinking of your own healthier alternatives as well! Remember, just a few small changes can have a positive impact on your health.