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The Best Shows for Healthy Food Swaps

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The Best Shows for Healthy Food Swaps

It’s that time of year again: many of us are suddenly watching our plates, trying new foods, and making an effort to make healthier choices.  And while the excitement of resolutions can push us through the first few weeks, that motivation tends to wane as time passes.  So how do we remedy this?  New ideas can reinvigorate our goals, particularly tasty ones.  I’ve found that I’ve been able to stay on track the longest when I surround myself with new recipes that are both appetizing and good for me.

Recently I got sucked into ABC’s new show, My Diet is Better Than Yours.  It’s about five people trying to make major lifestyle changes as guided by five diet founders.  The one that struck me the most is called the “Superfood Swap Diet“, created by nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner.  It’s aim is to help you eat the foods you crave, but substituting them for healthier versions based on nutrition-packed “superfoods”.  Of all the diet plans presented I feel this is the most sustainable and satisfying for the average person.  While I may not be able to give up hamburgers, I have no problem swapping them for whole grain buns and leaner cuts of meat, for example.  So with this in mind, I’ve been searching out shows full of recipes that help solve such cravings with enticing alternatives.

Most of these shows air on Cooking Channel (CC), but there are a few options that air (or have aired) on Food Network (FN) or other network channels.  Don’t worry if you don’t get one of these channels; many full episodes and videos are available on their websites for free, in addition to nearly all of their recipes.  You can also check out their Pinterest boards (such as Hungry Girl or The Biggest Loser) for encouragement.

Cooking Shows

  • Hungry Girl (Cooking Channel) – focused on low-calorie/low-fat food swaps for all of your favorite meals
  • Not My Mama’s Meals (Cooking Channel) – Paula Deen’s son recreates her famous recipes with healthy twists
  • How to Live to 100 (Cooking Channel) – vegan and vegetarian recipes based on “superfoods”
  • Drop 5 lbs with Good Housekeeping (Cooking Channel) – a 10-episode series focused on healthy meal planning
  • Junk Food Flip (Cooking Channel) – chefs create lighter versions of restaurants’ guilty pleasures
  • Ingredient Intel (Cooking Channel) – 2-minute shorts about fresh foods and cooking fundamentals
  • Giada at Home (Food Network) – while not technically a health-based show, episodes frequently focus on lighter meals

Health & Fitness Shows

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC) – contestants compete to lose weight with the support of experienced personal trainers
  • My Diet is Better Than Yours (ABC) – contestants guided by the creators of different nutrition plans compete to see which is most effective

Previously Aired Shows – These shows are not currently airing, but have recipes and videos preserved online focused on healthy eating.

I hope this helps you stay on track with your health and fitness goals for the year!  As always, if you have any options to add to this list feel free to comment below!

10 Healthier Alternatives to Ice Cream

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Healthier Ice Cream

I am always in the mood for ice cream.  Unfortunately, as much as we all wish, it’s not best of food options.  So to kick off summer, here’s a list of my favorite healthier alternatives to ice cream:

  1. Frozen Hot Chocolate – mix diet/no sugar added/fat free hot cocoa mix, skim milk, and ice in a blender until smooth
  2. No Sugar Added Fudge Pops – these are only 40 calories/popsicle and give you your chocolate fix
  3. Homemade Juice Popsicles – fill popsicle molds with orange, grape, or apple juice (or create your own cocktail)
  4. Light Yogurt – mix light vanilla yogurt with granola or a tsp of mini m&ms to simulate a McFlurry
  5. Arctic Zero – this brand provides several flavors of protein-heavy ice cream at only 35-75 calories/serving
  6. Fruit Sorbet – try these recipes for easy peach and watermelon sorbets you can make in a blender
  7. Frozen Banana – sometimes all it takes is a cold banana to beat an ice cream craving (chocolate syrup doesn’t hurt)
  8. Fruit Smoothie – check out Pinterest for thousands of recipes for healthy fruit smoothies (like this banana one)
  9. Sugar-Free Pudding – look in your grocery aisle for tons of options for sugar-free jello pudding
  10. Ice Cream Cups – if nothing else will do, try a mini ice cream cup from the freezer aisle (just stick to one)

I hope this can help your summer cravings!

Quick 10: Healthier Alternatives to Pizza

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Healthier Pizza

My husband would be the first to tell you that, no matter how much I try to eat healthy, I almost always cave to pizza night.  Maybe it’s a New York thing.  If you’re battling pizza cravings as well, here are some healthier alternatives:

  1. Tortilla Pizza
  2. Matzah Pizza
  3. English Muffin Pizza (whole wheat/multigrain muffins are best!)
  4. Pizza Rolls (use reduced fat crescent dough)
  5. Margherita Sandwich
  6. Margherita Pasta
  7. Gourmet Flatbread Pizza
  8. Pizza Stuffed Peppers
  9. Cauliflower/Zucchini Crust Pizza
  10. Sausage Pizza Burger – Pile a turkey sausage patty, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and all the veggie toppings you like on a whole wheat bun

All of these recipes can be made healthier with low fat mozzarella cheese (go light!) and homemade pizza sauce.  They’re great ways to indulge your craving without completely straying from your nutrition goals.  So next time you’re looking to order in, try out one of these recipes instead!

For more ideas on how you can beat food cravings and use them to your advantage, check out my post on the Food Swap Plan!