There's no denying that a good piece of chocolate can brighten up anyone's day, but overindulging can ruin your current diet. It's truly a curse that the foods that are rich and savory are generally the ones which can kick you off your weight loss streak. But don't beat yourself up over the slip up–instead learn from it!
Feeling deprived or starved while dropping those last five pounds defeats the purpose of having a healthy lifestyle. Instead there are greateralternatives to your favorite snacks and desserts. And trust us, the options we've come up with taste EVEN better than that brownie you've been craving…
Read more ¿Qué más?: Your chocolate addiction really is beyond your control!
Check out our seven favorite healthy food swaps for your most common cravings below!
Dark Chocolate: If you're craving chocolate, skip the milk chocolate and opt for 85 percent dark chocolate. The super power food contains tons of antioxidants, and helps combat aging and heart problems. By choosing this type of dark chocolate, you're still retaining some of its sweetness.
Pita chips and hummus: If you have a salty tooth and love reaching for that bag of chips, try this healthier option. Pita chips (preferably multi-grain) will not only slash the amount of saturated fats that regular chips carry, but with the hummus they are protein packed too.
Trail Mix: When your sweet tooth kicks in and you find yourself reaching for your favorite sweet candy, drop them and go for the trail mix. Trail mix–with some chocolate chips of course–make for a satisfying sweet treat and provide you with tons of good fats and carbs.
Sweet Potato Fries: There's nothing more perfect and junky than a good batch of French fries. Unfortunately the ones you generally buy at bars or other restaurants are packed with saturated fats and fall under the category of food regret. Instead make or choose baked sweet potato fries drizzled in olive oil and your favorite herbs. You'll get a healthy dose of beta-carotene and less of that bad fat!
Spaghetti squash: If you LOVE pasta but are trying to cut back on the carbs, spaghetti squash is the way to go. You can season it however you would regular pasta and get the same taste without feeling guilty. But if you REALLY want that pasta, opt for the whole grain version to up your daily fiber intake.
Gelato: With the warmer weather finally here, it's easy to crave ice cream. However, ice cream is packed with lots of fats and sugars that it isn't the best option if you're trying to lose weight. Gelato is simply the Italian name for "ice cream", but it is made with less fat and calories. It also tastes richer and is just as satisfying as your favorite helado!
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