The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Once again, doing a little post about eating healthy. This one's going to be about my WEAKNESS FOOD!! aka, the junk everyone loves to hate, or hates to love really. I'm going to think about healthier alternatives of what to get instead of these sugar/calorie bombs. Even the healthier alternatives should be eaten in moderation.

In terms of sweet tooth favorites...

1. POPTARTS

For some reason or another, Pop Tarts have always been one of my favorite junk foods. Even as a kid, they were a go-to staple in our kitchen (even if mom didn't really approve.) I'm talking like WHOLE life here- even in preschool I remember these bad boys! Pop Tarts was one of the things I gave up for Lent, and I had my first one since then last week. It was deliiiiicious, but I knew that these things are just terrible for you. With usually something like 20+ grams of sugar, these things are nuts! I've looked around for healthy alternatives to the occasional treat, and it looks like the only things really out there are FiberOne brands, un-iced versions, and anything with more natural ingredients and less sugar.

2. BLUEBELL ICE CREAM

This is still something that I probably have too often than should be allowed. I probably buy a pint a couple times a month, maybe less. Even if the half-gallon sizes have lots more flavor options, there is no reason at all for me to buy those! They are GINORMOUS! Yes, they would last me for a month probably, but who needs to eat that much ice cream? I wouldn't want a constant supply of it just waiting for me in the freezer. Some, I think, healthier alternatives are this:

Buy sorbets, but still look at the sugar contents and stuff. Something made with natural fruits and not so much added sugars. If Bluebell Ice Cream is necessary, then buy those little cup packs! Remember those little servings you used to get for birthday parties? They still sell them! And they're a sensible serving size too. They come in big packs though, so that should last a couple months, at least.

3. COOKIES

Now, this could go for any kind really, but I just love Chocolate Chip cookies. These I'm not so sure actually have a healthy alternative. Just frankly, don't buy them. I very rarely do, and the last time I bought cookies at the store, I gave half of them to a friend, just cause I didn't need all of them! Same goes for baking. If baking, keep like 1/4 of the goodies for yourself, and give the rest away! That's what I do, anyway. 

And now away from the sweet tooth, and into the fav every day junk food!

4. Macaroni and Cheese

Just like Pop Tarts, this was another staple to my childhood! It's my favorite comfort food! Too bad it has to be super bad for you too. It's not even that I like the Kraft kind (in fact, I don't really even like that kind at all.) I have high standards for my favorite foods :P There's nothing much you can really do to the boxed kind to make them much healthier. All you do is add butter, milk, and cheese powder. Yes, I add skim milk and healthier butter, but does that really make a huge difference? What's most important, I think, is to have lots of vegetables with it. Sometimes, when boiling the macaroni in the pot, I add into it like half a bag of frozen peas, broccoli, or green beans. (FYI, the mac n cheese goes for like 2 or three servings btw, so it's not like all that stuff gets eaten at once!) 

Last, but not least...

5. PB & J

This one isn't really all that big a deal for me, but I felt like it was noteworthy enough to be included. I hardly ever buy these things now (bread, peanut butter, jelly) but when I went home this weekend, of course, we had everything needed for a good 'ol PB & J. The healthy alternatives here are: Use 1 slice of a healthy bread, like whole wheat or grain, pretty much anything but white bread. Use almond butter if you can afford it, or do your research to find healthy peanut butters, and same goes for the jelly. Look at the ingredients and sugar content. If you just have a hankering for peanut butter, have some with an apple. If you just want jelly, have some on a piece of healthy toast. These are pretty obvious solutions here that can be made easily.

Long story short, there are still, and always will be, my favorite comfort foods that need to be special treats now and then. Even then, they can be made as healthy as possible. The sweet tooth foods are the ones that really get me, and I need to be careful not to have. For one thing, I do my best not to buy them at the grocery store, and if I ever do, it's one cookie or one muffin, not a big pack of a dozen like they're usually sold. That's just asking for it right there. 

Well now, back to studying (and hopefully eating healthy!) for the day! :) I can look back on this if I ever need a reminder of eating healthy when having a treat.