Healthy New Year’s Alternatives

This is the week when millions of Americans resolve to get healthy – diets are started, fitness regimes are planned, and everyone takes a deep breath in the hope that they’ll be able to stick to their new regime. Sadly – most don’t, because denying ourselves the things we love never works long-term.

I found that the easiest and most effective way for me to get and STAY healthy, was to find satisfyingly healthy alternatives for the things I like to eat. The most common I-want-to-give-up’s are: chocolate, coffee, wheat, dairy, meat and sugar. Here are some alternatives that work for me:

Chocolate: You don’t have to give up chocolate at all. Dark Chocolate is good for you in moderation and now that I’ve found Coco Polo, I can have my choc and eat it too. This is hand’s down the best sugar-free chocolate on the market. Buy a box and you’ll thank me!

Coffee: I had to pretty much give up coffee a few years ago as it didn’t make me feel great, plus it’s incredibly acidic, which I don’t like. Since switching to tea, I’ve never looked back. However, if you want to try to make the switch, you must try to buy loose teas because tea bags just don’t have the same flavor and quality. Loose teas can be more expensive, so buy them in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs. Try drinking at least one cup of green/white tea a day for the superb healthy benefits that you’ll get.

Butter: Although I still occasionally cook with butter, I try to use it as little as possible. I substitute with Earth Balances’s Coconut Spread for my toast, and Raw Virgin Coconut oil for pancakes, oatmeal and baking.

Milk/Creamer: I try to avoid dairy as much as possible, especially in the form of milk. Most people with any kind of digestive issue do better without. I use Almond, Rich or Coconut Milk instead.

Bread/Pasta: Although not allergic, many of use have an intolerance towards wheat. The flours that make most of our pasta and bread in the U.S are very high in gluten, which is why many people can tolerate pasta and bread in Europe more easily. I recommend switching to sprouted grain breads, as they are easier to digest. You can also buy a plethora of gluten-free pastas now, but be aware that many of them are even higher in calories than their counterparts. I came across Pappardelle’s gluten-free pasta a few months ago, and it is absolutely delicious.

Soda: I use my soda stream to make pure, sparkling water straight from my faucet and add it to organic fruit juice or even the Sparkling Naturals that you can purchase from Soda Stream.

Chicken: It’s not that healthy to eat too much chicken especially if it’s not certified organic, a great alternative is Seitan. I use it to make “Fried Chicken”. You’ll find Hain Celestial Seitan as most health food stores.

Beef: If you want to cut down on beef and burgers, but still miss that juicy something between a bun, try grilling large portobello mushroom – the healthiest/tastiest burger alternative I know.

Sugar: Sugar is sugar no matter what form it comes in and will spike your blood sugar. I try to use just small amounts of either Organic Agave Nectar or Coconut Palm Sugar when baking. I also use raw honey, but you should never cook with raw honey. I also like Truvia, which is made from the better-tasting part of the stevia plant – it won’t spike your blood sugar at all and is great to sweeten your tea, coffee, morning grapefruit or oatmeal.

Dressing:The dressing is often the most calorific part of the salad and many bottled dressings contain all kinds of unhealthy ingredients. If you are trying to cut down on oil in your diet, here’s a great alternative:

• 2 tbsps tahini
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1/2tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp agave nectar
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.