5 Small Food Swaps That Make a Big Difference
Living a healthy and balanced life is more than working out every day.
It also means having a healthy and balanced diet. If you want to incorporate healthier options into your everyday diet, try these simple five food swaps.
Soda/diet soda for flavored carbonated water or fruit infused water.
Water is always the best option when it comes to drink options. According to the CDC, it benefits your joints and tissues, normalizes your body temperature, rids your body of waste, and so much more. If you have a hard time remembering to drink water, try keeping your water bottle with you at all times. Just carrying it around will make you think of it more often. Just don't like it? Add in your favorite fruits like lemons, limes, or strawberries for more flavor and nutrients.
White pasta for spaghetti squash or spiralized zucchini
Spaghetti squash is a great choice to increase your veggie intake. Spaghetti squash contains fiber and vitamins that are important for digestion and immune functions. Spiralized zucchini is also a contender — it can be bought premade and is also lower in calories!
Rice for cauliflower rice
Swapping white or fried rice for cauliflower “rice” gives you the same texture with a full serving of veggies. Cauliflower is also a good source of fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamin C.
Mayonnaise for mashed avocado.
Mashed avocado has endless possibilities… think sauces, dips, spreads for sandwiches, egg salads, etc. Avocado is unique in the sense that it is botanically fruit, and it contains healthy fats that help fight inflammation and improve the appearance of hair, skin, and nails.
Potato chips for roasted chickpeas, roasted edamame, kale chips, or baby carrots
First off, chickpeas or edamame have more fiber and vitamins than chips — roast them in the oven, and you’re left with a crunchy alternative. Not in the mood to make your own? Grab them premade from the C-store or grocery store.
Maybe you try the chickpea and edamame thing and you aren’t a huge fan. Try kale chips! A serving of kale packs a serious punch — you’ll get a generous helping of nutrients, all while meeting the daily requirement of vitamins A and C.
Lastly, reach for baby carrots to help you get a serving of veggies or nuts, seeds, and granola if you’re craving something crunchy.
Give these swaps a try and see how easy it is to increase your fruit and veggie intake in a yummy way!
Be well, Auburn.
Editor in Chief Emeritus (2018/2019)
Born and raised in the D.C. Metro Area, Kyleigh followed her gut 750 miles away from home to Auburn, Alabama. Now a senior in public relations, she can confidently say it’s the best decision she has ever made. Passionate about health and wellness and interested in marketing, working at The Rec is the perfect fit for her.
Outside of The Rec, Kyleigh is working toward big goals, like visiting all 50 states before she’s 25 (12 to go, if you’re curious) and getting her registered yoga teacher certification. She has an insatiable appetite for adventure and loves to travel, learning about new cultures and herself in the process. When she’s not daydreaming about future trips, she can be found in yoga class, visiting the cows off Lem Morrison, or making sure her friends are fed. Kyleigh doesn’t exactly know what she wants to do when she graduates, but she knows it won’t be boring.
