Healthy foods that are tastier than junk food

You will thank us for these healthy substitutes for junk food.

Healthy food is often thought of as unappetising. And anything junk spells taste. No wonder everyone s a fan of it. But have you noticed that some healthy foods are often tastier than junk food? Occasionally, we do consume these foods for their taste when we should actually make it a part of our daily diet.

Here s a list of few healthy snacks that can be as tasty, if not more, as the unhealthy junk.

Fresh Milkshakes

Aren t these a lot tastier than the ones made with syrups? You can definitely tell the difference between a fresh mango or a fresh strawberry shake vis- -vis their syrup versions. Fresh fruits definitely score over the preserved variety because of the high fibre content. Milk is your source of calcium and helps lower blood pressure. So needless to say, this healthy variety scores a point.

Dark Chocolate:

This is devoid of the extra sugar found in milk-based chocolates and hence makes it to the list. Additionally, dark chocolate is great for heart health and studies ^[1][2][3] indicate that they reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Here are more health benefits of dark chocolate.

Not a fan of bitter dark chocolate? Mix some dark chocolate, half a banana, half an avocado and a few drops of milk in a blender. Your delicious and healthy version of Nutella or bread spread is ready.

Popcorn

Yes, your favorite movie-time snack has made it to the list. Popcorn contains high amounts of fiber and is low on calories ^[4]. You ll have to avoid the butter and cheese and other additives that make it unhealthy. Plain popcorn is equally tasty and better than munching on a bag full of chips.

Yogurt

One of the healthiest and tastiest foods in the list, yogurt is packed with nutrients and good bacteria. It aids digestion and improves bone health too. If you are a fan of flavored yogurts, prepare them at home. Add some honey and fresh berries or fruits for your version. Craving for some dessert, just a bowl of yogurt and honey will satiate it. Add some hung yogurt to your fruits and top it with nuts and honey and you have a healthy sundae ready.

Nuts

Nuts like almonds and pistachios are a great snack option. The crunchy salty pistachios and the roasted nuts are absolutely mouthwatering. Both are packed with antioxidants and hence help flush out toxins from your system. Pistachios help boost immunity and are great for your eyes and skin too. Almonds are rich in proteins and vitamins and are a great addition to your oats, cereal or even salads.

Peanuts:

Salted, roasted or plain but not fried peanuts are a perfect treat. Though peanuts are perceived to be unhealthy because of the high fat content, studies^[5] indicate they are not linked to weight gain. Like almonds and pistachios, peanuts too can be added to salads or desserts for crunch. You can also make a peanut salad and enjoy it as an evening snack.

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References:

1. Crozier SJ, Preston AG, Hurst JW, Payne MJ, Mann J, Hainly L, Miller DL.Cacao seeds are a "Super Fruit": A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products.Chem Cent J. 2011 Feb 7;5:5. doi: 10.1186/1752-153X-5-5.
2. Taubert D, Roesen R, Lehmann C, Jung N, Sch mig E.Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure and bioactive nitric oxide: a randomized controlled trial.JAMA. 2007 Jul 4;298(1):49-60.
3. Baba S, Natsume M, Yasuda A, Nakamura Y, Tamura T, Osakabe N, Kanegae M, Kondo K.Plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol and oxidized LDL concentrations are altered in normo- and hypercholesterolemic humans after intake of different levels of cocoa powder.J Nutr. 2007 Jun;137(6):1436-41.
4. Grandjean AC, Fulgoni VL 3rd, Reimers KJ, Agarwal S. Popcorn consumption and dietary and physiological parameters of US children and adults: analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 dietary survey data.J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 May;108(5):853-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.02.018.
5. Moreno JP, Johnston CA, El-Mubasher AA, Papaioannou MA, Tyler C, Gee M, Foreyt JP.Peanut consumption in adolescents is associated with improved weight status.Nutr Res. 2013 Jul;33(7):552-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2013.05.005. Epub 2013 Jun 15.