Most of us are quite keen on our health, especially when we’re going on a diet. While eating sugary treats, snacks, and chips can satiate our hunger and give us the calories needed to take on the day, this doesn’t necessarily make it right. There’s a common denominator to this type of food: they’re all packed with sugar and salt. Even a can of soda will average around 150 calories of sugar, approximately 22 teaspoons of sugar. Too much sugar and calories are often the cause of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
But for the average Australian, most won’t mind taking in excessive amounts of processed and junk food into their body. Australians are known for eating 32 kilograms of chocolate in a year. If you think about it, that’s thousands of calories worth of sugar that’s being streamlined to the body.
When we’re watching a movie, having friends over, or chilling in the yard with our family, most of us usually munch down snacks. But despite what our doctors have been telling us that meals that are high in sugar and salts can cause
84% of Australians typically order from fast food daily. As ageing continues, the percentage will often drop, with older adults at the age of 60 and over comprising 24.1% of that population. Nevertheless, this shows that millions of Australians are prone to obesity, heart diseases, and other conditions caused by overeating junk food and calorie-rich dishes.
No worries, if you do feel guilty knowing that you’re eating snacks that are jam-packed with calories and fats, here are some alternatives that you can eat instead.
Food Alternatives
With several different advances and innovations in food technology, it’s easier for us to create different products that are tailored to our nutritional needs. Ultimately, food technology has allowed us to analyse, invent, and conduct research based on the data on how different food industries work. Doing so helps mitigate carbon emissions and free up more food for millions of individuals who do not have any means of feeding themselves.
Despite all of these, the best alternatives and ingredients for our diet can usually be found in natural products. Here are some of these products:
Pistachios, Slices of Fruit, and Powdered Peanut Butter
Even though you might be dieting, it’s essential to fill your stomach with just the right amount of calories and nutrients. If you’re looking for just the right amount calories to help you out with your daily tasks, powdered peanut butter contains around 50 calories compared to the 200 calories on peanut butter that you have to smear on your sandwich.
Maybe you’re looking for a good idea for a custom cake design that you surprise your parents and friends with? Desserts don’t necessarily have to be sweet and sugary. There are desserts out there that are even tastier with slices of apples, mangoes, walnuts, and pistachios. So get creative with your cake! These ingredients are low in sugar, but they contain the right amount of fibre, nutrients, and even protein.
Dried and Lean Meat
Contrary to what most people think, dieting doesn’t necessarily mean cutting meat off from your diet. Some foods, such as jerky, are known for having a long shelf life since it’s been dried out and usually vacuum sealed. Typically, jerky is traditionally made from beef, but can also be made from chicken, pork, venison, and even fish. These are a great source of protein, vitamins, and iron.
Of course, it’s important to also read the nutrient content and eat those that have lower amounts of salt.
Protein Bars
If you’re not in the mood for meat and other animal-based products, you might want to check out protein bars. Studies have shown that people who resort to veganism might not get the right amount of nutrients needed to have a well-rounded diet. As such, it’s crucial to also focus on our protein and calorie intake.
Most legumes, especially those that can be turned into protein bars such as peanut butter bars, will usually contain 11.2 grams of protein with 273 calories. If you’re hiking or doing physically vigorous activities, protein bars are great at giving you the right amount of calories to take on the day.
When it comes to looking for the right food for your diet, there are many alternatives you can choose from. Dried meat, legumes, vegetables, and other plant-based ingredients can help.
Just because you’re in a diet doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy all the good things in life. Craving for cake and other types of desserts? They’re still on the table, as long as you are aware of your calorie intake. We understand that you’ve been trying to get that dream body figure you’ve always wanted, but you shouldn’t sacrifice the simplest pleasures in life.
