When people are trying to maintain their weight or are following a diet, they often categorize all the foods they eat as either “healthy” or “unhealthy.” But this is an extremely confining approach to eating that can leave people frustrated. Certain food or nutrient groups tend to get demonized by popular fad diets to such an extent that they often end up being cast in an unhealthy light even when they might actually be healthy. It is important to remember that contrary to what we are often told, some of our guiltiest pleasures can be surprisingly nutritious. If you’re looking to make your guilty pleasure foods healthy, you can practice these tips on a regular basis:
Replacing sugar with raw honey
As far as calories are concerned, this hack won’t help you cut down on your calorie intake too much, but honey is more beneficial than sugar in many ways. You can replace sugar with honey while making some of your favorite dishes. For instance, you can use honey instead of faux-maple syrup or sugar on waffles, pancakes, and other desserts. Raw honey is less processed as compared to sugar, and if it is locally sourced, it may contain trace amounts of pollen in your area, which can help reduce the risk of seasonal allergies. It also has trace amounts of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants which can counter inflammation in the body. Honey is antibacterial as well as antifungal to a certain extent. So, it can help soothe numerous digestive woes and illnesses naturally.
Adding a dash of cinnamon to sweetened drinks
We all are quite aware of the fact that cinnamon is a great low-calorie ingredient that is also flavourful. But what a lot of people don’t know is that it can also prove to be a healthy addition to sweetened drinks. You can add a dash of cinnamon to your coffee to enhance its flavor. Cinnamon greatly improves the level of glucose in the blood by decreasing insulin resistance. Many studies have proved that cinnamon is a popular spice that aids with weight loss as well.
Swapping canned tuna for a low-mercury option
A lot of neurological, vision-related, and hearing problems can be caused by the mercury present in tuna. Mercury is also dangerous for children and pregnant women. There are many healthier options available in the market that can be used in place of canned tuna which are as flavorful as it but are better for the health due to the lower mercury levels.
Consuming ice cream packed with fiber
In today’s times, when people are getting wiser and keeping a check on everything that goes into their body, a number of sellers are coming up with healthier options for every possible food, be it burgers or ice-creams. Many ice-cream companies are adding protein and fiber to their products to keep the cholesterol, fats, and calories in check. A meal or snack that is high in fiber usually tends to make you feel fuller for a long duration of time. So, having this type of ice-cream can help ensure that you don’t binge eat on it as a guilty pleasure.
Apart from these, there are many other hacks and tricks that can help you turn your guilty pleasures into guilt-free ones. All you really need is a little research, and you’re good to go!
