Hello Everyone! For today, I've got Skeletal Swank's first ever food post! You'll get these every now and then due to my obsession with cooking, baking and the mounds of Pinterest recipes i find.
We've got a real special treat today, my good friend Alissa from lifelikefruitsalad has collaborated with me on treats that you can eat as a substitution for nasteh' (imagine that in That's so Raven's voice...) foods! So read along, try some out, and enjoy!
Avocado spread on toast INSTEAD OF butter or cream cheese on toast
SO simple, and my favorite snack/breakfast/lunch ever!!
Steps:
1) Toast a slice of Whole Wheat bread (white is okay, but just remember--white bread is filled with sugars and is actually really bad for you. Whole wheat is a much healthier option!)
2) Slice an avocado in half, and slice one half up
3) Mash together the sliced 1/2 avocado in a small bowl until it's just a little lumpy
4) Season with whatever you want! I personally love garlic powder, sea salt, and a little bit of pepper.
5) Spread on toast! You can even add a little more toppings over it, like more pepper or even a couple of dashes of hot sauce.
It's super filling and super fast to make, so this is perfect if you're about to leave for school and don't have time to make a big breakfast. It also serves as an awesome snack if you're feeling hungry before dinner, or as a lunch with a big side of fruit!
Greek Yogurt/Brown sugar dip for strawberries INSTEAD OF whipped cream or chocolate
If you've got a sweet tooth and an obsession with strawberries but don't like sour strawberries, I've got the perfect dip for you. My mom created it years ago and I love dipping my strawberries in this instead of whipped cream or anything too sugary!
Steps:
1) Slice up some strawberries
2) Take a tablespoon full of Greek Yogurt (I love Fage, but there's also Chobani!) and mix it with about half a teaspoon-1 teaspoon of light brown sugar (this really depends on the taste you want, i usually mix and taste to see how I like the taste.) This should taste like Yogurtland's tart yogurt!
3) Dip the strawberries in!
Other ideas:
-Veggie Grill's Santa Fe Crispy Chick'n Burger INSTEAD OF a burger from any other place like Red Robin or Islands: VG's chicken is fake and the chicken for this specific burger is crispy and topped with a tasty guacamole, lettuce, tomato, spicy vegan mayo, and red onion. The side for this is the restaurant's famous delicious sweet potato fries with a chipotle ranch dressing!
-S'mores flavored Luna Bar INSTEAD OF Rice Krispie Treats: They taste exactly the same! Luna Bars are much filling and give an energy boost and are much healthier than Rice Krispie Treats!
-Greek Yogurt with honey/agave and fruit INSTEAD OF sugary brand name yogurts: This is a very healthy option for breakfast and even as a snack. Greek yogurt is excellent for you, and by adding fruits and natural sweeteners like honey or agave, you are more likely to stay energized throughout the day without the unnatural sugars weighing you down!
Baked Kale or Spinach INSTEAD OF Chips/Crisps
It's HARD to not snack when watching a tv show or movie, right?
Well, instead of wasting an entire days worth of calories and fat on a bag of potato chips (11 chips for 140 calories and an absurd amount of unhealthy, refined fat and carbs?! No, thanks anyways!), why not grab an entire BOWL of baked kale or spinach? You're getting the crisp and seasoned-ness of the chips, with loads more nutrition and benefits. You can even eat an entire bowl, completely guilt-free! Kale and spinach are both super-foods, containing a great amount of fiber and vitamins. They're two of the best vegetables for you, actually! Eat up!
(P.S. 1 cup is about 20-36 calories... Pretty great, yes? I'd say so!)
RECIPE:
1 bunch of kale or spinach, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of seasoned or sea salt.
Wash and chop up your bunch of kale or vegetable.
On parchment paper, lay out your chopped vegetable flat.
Drizzle with olive oil, then top with salt.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes, or until crispy but not burnt.
Wait, don't stop reading, yet! You don't like kale or spinach? Try popcorn!
It's HARD to not snack when watching a tv show or movie, right?
Well, instead of wasting an entire days worth of calories and fat on a bag of potato chips (11 chips for 140 calories and an absurd amount of unhealthy, refined fat and carbs?! No, thanks anyways!), why not grab an entire BOWL of baked kale or spinach? You're getting the crisp and seasoned-ness of the chips, with loads more nutrition and benefits. You can even eat an entire bowl, completely guilt-free! Kale and spinach are both super-foods, containing a great amount of fiber and vitamins. They're two of the best vegetables for you, actually! Eat up!
(P.S. 1 cup is about 20-36 calories... Pretty great, yes? I'd say so!)
RECIPE:
1 bunch of kale or spinach, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of seasoned or sea salt.
Wash and chop up your bunch of kale or vegetable.
On parchment paper, lay out your chopped vegetable flat.
Drizzle with olive oil, then top with salt.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes, or until crispy but not burnt.
Wait, don't stop reading, yet! You don't like kale or spinach? Try popcorn!
Popcorn is, surpisingly, a healthy whole grain! You can have a huge serving for a small amount of calories, and with zero fat if you don't use butter!
Forget about the store bought boxes, though... Get yourself some plain kernels and brown baggies! Pour some kernels into a baggy with a teaspoon or so of olive oil (this will add fat, but it will be a healthy fat!) and some seasoning. Fold the bag over, and microwave it for 2-3 minutes.
Forget about the store bought boxes, though... Get yourself some plain kernels and brown baggies! Pour some kernels into a baggy with a teaspoon or so of olive oil (this will add fat, but it will be a healthy fat!) and some seasoning. Fold the bag over, and microwave it for 2-3 minutes.
Mashed Cauliflower INSTEAD OF Mashed Potatoes
Before you think I'm crazy, in my defense, even my mom (who is a cauliflower hater!) absolutely loved the replacement of cauliflower in mashed potatoes.
All you need is 1 large cauliflower head, 3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
Take off the stem of your cauliflower, then chopped up the remainder.
Put inside a pan with your chicken stock and minced garlic. Boil for 40 minutes maximum.
When soft enough, mash the cauliflower with a potato masher, or mix with an electric mixer.
Drain the remainder of the stock, and top your mashed cauliflower with Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
(You can even add in cheeses or vegetables!)
For 1 cup, it's a max of 40 completely healthy calories.
Don't like cauliflower? Try mashed sweet potato!
Before you think I'm crazy, in my defense, even my mom (who is a cauliflower hater!) absolutely loved the replacement of cauliflower in mashed potatoes.
All you need is 1 large cauliflower head, 3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
Take off the stem of your cauliflower, then chopped up the remainder.
Put inside a pan with your chicken stock and minced garlic. Boil for 40 minutes maximum.
When soft enough, mash the cauliflower with a potato masher, or mix with an electric mixer.
Drain the remainder of the stock, and top your mashed cauliflower with Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
(You can even add in cheeses or vegetables!)
For 1 cup, it's a max of 40 completely healthy calories.
Don't like cauliflower? Try mashed sweet potato!
Baked Sweet Potatoes INSTEAD OF Fried White Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are another super-food that are high in fiber and iron. They're a super healthy, energy-loaded carbohydrate that will help keep you full and satisfied!
They're also super universal; you can make them savory OR sweet!
Chop a medium-sized sweet potato into your desired fry slices. Coat in a teaspoon or so of olive oil, then sprinkle with salt.
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, or until desired crispiness.
Protein Style INSTEAD OF Regular
If you're out and about and need to find a quick-fix for lunch or dinner, don't be afraid of fast food places! Want a burger? Get a burger! But, if you want to make it healthier, ditch the bun and wrap it in lettuce... aka get it PROTEIN STYLE!
Greek Yogurt INSTEAD OF Regular Yogurt
Greek yogurt is thick, loaded with protein, a delicious source of calcium, and had probiotics that can help improve your digestive health and keep your tummy bacteria HEALTHY! It can boost your immune system, keep you full and keep you happy and healthy. Fage is my favorite brand!
Homemade Ice Cream INSTEAD OF Store-bought Ice Cream
Addicted to ice cream, but trying to watch your waist-line?
Don't give up dessert! It's one of the best meals of the day! Either eat it in moderation, or find a healthy alternative...
Like BANANA ICE CREAM!
Freeze one banana, then whip it up in a blender of food processor until creamy and a bit gooey. Top with melted peanut butter, a drizzle of honey, granola... Anything and everything!
You can also make almond milk ice cream by freezing 1 cup of almond milk with a pinch of salt & 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract with whatever flavor you want it to be. (Example: stir in a tablespoon of cocoa powder if you want chocolate-flavored ice cream)
Freeze for 2+ hours, then take out, break it up, and enjoy!
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Plain Greek Yogurt + Ranch Powder INSTEAD OF Ranch Dressing
Are you a ranch dressing LOVER? The only way you will voluntarily eat vegetables is with ranch dressing to dip, right?
Well, you can have your ranch for half the calories and double (or even triple?!) the protein!
Just get a small container of plain Greek yogurt, and stir in some ranch powder.
Alissa's blog, lifelikefruitsalad.blogspot.com is FILLED with great treats and inspiring motivation! Go check her's out, as well as her instagram at: thestrawbirdy!
xo, Alexa
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