FOOD + DRINK
Popular Junk Food
( and its alternatives …)
BY LISAMARIE LAMB
There ’ s nothing quite like junk food , is there ? All that flavour , all that convenience , all that pleasure – as well as all those calories , all that fat , and all the unhealthiness , of course . It ’ s a shame that the best tasting food , and the stuff that we crave more than anything , is the kind that is the worst for us . From pizza to burgers to kebabs to good old fish and chips , it ’ s a sad fact that these delicious foods are high in fat , high in cholesterol , and high in the dreaded calories . They make us feel great when we ’ re anticipating them , and when we ’ re eating them , but afterwards all of that junk makes our bodies sluggish and heavy – sometimes literally so .
And yet … they taste so good ! It ’ s just not fair . But what if there was a healthy alternative to your favourite junk food that not only tasted great , but managed to do so without all of the additives and calories ? The good news is that these foods exist . The better news is that they are easy to find and can even be made quickly at home .
Take crisps , for example . It ’ s a staple in many homes , an easy to reach snack when hunger strikes . But all of that grease and badness is not great . Instead of potato crisps , why not try parsnip or sweet potato versions ? Just slice the vegetable thinly , pop it onto a baking sheet , and sprinkle with olive oil and a little seasoning . Bake for 20 minutes and you ’ ve got a delicious , healthy snack on hand . A 40g serving of Kettle Chips , for example , contains
201 calories and 11.5g of fat . The same serving of parsnip crisps contains just 114 calories and only 5.4g of fat .
On a potato theme , chips are great , aren ’ t they ? When they are done right they are crispy on the outside , soft in the middle , and just melt in the mouth . What ’ s not so great is the unhealthy aspect of the things – all that deep frying is not good for you . So instead of deep frying them , you could make your own oven-baked wedges . Healthy and simple , they still have that lovely fluffy inside and loads of taste . Compared to standard chips , these beauties have 40 % fewer calories and 70 % less fat .
Pizza . Who doesn ’ t love it ? As a nation we ’ ve taken pizza to our hearts – and it ’ s our hearts that are suffering . To make pizza healthier , use flatbreads as the base . You can still enjoy a variety of toppings ( vegetables included !), but with a flatbread you are ridding your meal of around 9g of fat and 100 calories per serving . Plus , by making the pizza yourself , you can involve the whole family , and pizza night suddenly takes on a whole new , much more fun , meaning .
When it comes to extra sides , onion rings are probably at the top of the table . But they are greasy , packed full of fat , and generally not good for us , even if they do have a vegetable in them . As an alternative , with 75 % less fat and 60 % fewer calories than the takeaway version , use crushed up croutons ( mixed with egg whites and flour ) to make the crispy coating , spray them with oil , and bake for 20 minutes . Nice !
For those with a sweet tooth who love candy and lollipops , your teeth and your health can be saved by simply switching to dried fruit . Chewy and delicious , this is a substitute that no one minds making , and it ’ s a fantastic way to ensure you are getting your five a day . Dried fruits are full of fibre , vitamins , and minerals . A bag of boiled sweets is just empty calories and sugar . Which sounds better ?
Although it may take a while to get out of the habit of buying and eating junk food , once you begin to insert alternatives into your diet , you ’ ll be amazed at the difference it makes . And don ’ t forget ; your favourite old junk foods will always be there as a treat ( you just may not want them anymore )!
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