
If you’re dealing with those late-night cravings and want something cold, sweet, or savory, here are three common junk foods and their healthier alternatives:
**Ice Cream: Frozen Bananas**
A pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream packs a whopping 1,160 calories, with more than half coming from fat. Even choosing the plain vanilla still leaves you with 920 calories. Opting for Ben & Jerry’s Raspberry Fudge Chunk frozen Greek yogurt can drop the calorie count to 760 per pint and significantly reduce the fat. But if you want a treat that’s delicious and super low in calories, try this: take a ripe banana, peel it, freeze it, and then blend it. You’ll get a delicious soft-serve ice cream texture, and it only has about 100 calories per banana.
**Candy Bars: Fruit Dipped in Dark Chocolate**
We all know that candy bars aren’t exactly health foods, but their taste makes them hard to resist. Instead of reaching for a Snickers, which has nearly 300 calories per bar, try some fruit dipped in dark chocolate. The fruit provides a healthy sugar boost, and dark chocolate is high in antioxidants that can help fight cancer when enjoyed in moderation.
**Pizza**
Pizza often gets criticized for being greasy and high in fat. But it can be healthier with just a few tweaks. Go for a thin crust to cut down on carbs, top it with tomato sauce, a light sprinkle of cheese, spinach, garlic, and your favorite meat. This version is not only tasty but more nutritious. Spinach adds extra vitamins, the meat gives you protein, and the tomato sauce is packed with lycopene, which is known to help prevent and fight prostate cancer.
So next time cravings hit, try these substitutes for a healthier indulgence!