Healthier alternatives to junk food
You don’t always have to reward your kids with junk food like chocolate and chips! There are plenty of alternatives that your kids might like even more. Let’s explore healthier alternatives to junk food here…
Cook it up!
A lot of kids’ favorites foods tend to be battered or fried, but by simply cutting out the frying process, you can still make them what they want without the guilt. There are plenty of ways to cook the same foods with the same, possibly even better, results. Take whatever fried food your kids love the most and have a go at oven baking, grilling, steaming, roasting, or poaching to get a healthier alternative. A personal favorite of mine is oven-baked chicken wings, or these Traeger grill potatoes are a perfect alternative to standard French fries.
Serving up poached eggs for breakfast is a much healthier option than sunny side up and you can purchase handy egg poachers that can be used on the stove or thrown in the microwave, perfect for if you are in a rush but still want to provide a hearty breakfast.
Homemade pizza is miles better than takeout and is a fun activity for the whole family. Kids love to get involved and really appreciate the freedom to handpick their own toppings.
Satisfy that sweet tooth.
If your kids have got a sweet tooth why not try making your own frozen yogurt pops! You can also slice up some fruit to mix in with the yogurt and it’s just like ice cream.
Instead of candy, satisfy that craving with dried fruit. Even fussy children who wouldn’t normally bite into a whole apple can be persuaded by a packet of tasty dried mango.
You might offer homemade milkshakes as a special treat but a simple swap to fruit smoothies can help get your kids their daily vitamin intake. Or you can mix up a peanut butter oat smoothie that tastes just like a milkshake and is packed with protein.
You don’t have to give your chocolate-loving kids a whole candy bar, instead, you can offer up chocolate-covered peanuts or chocolate-covered raisins – this will satisfy that cocoa craving but by combining it with a healthier snack, they can have more of it more often.
Substitutions
Next time you go to grab a bag of chips at the grocery store, take a look around to see what kinds of veggie chips they have. Thinly sliced, fried and looking just like potato chips, they will barely know the difference. In fact, the allure of multicoloured chips might make this treat even more appealing!
A bag of sweet or salty popcorn can also be a great substitute for chips. Popcorn is not just for movie nights!
Instead of your standard fries, sweet potato fries are much healthier and arguably tastier. Or take the time to roast or bake veggies, throw on plenty of herbs and spices to make it more interesting and it’s a great alternative to fast food.
Substitute that beef burger for a super healthy grilled chicken burger. Even buttermilk chicken can be a healthier option than those sloppy joes.