Carb-rich foods are delicious, but unfortunately, the way our bodies metabolise starch after it’s consumed can be problematic. When carbohydrates break down they become glucose (sugar) and are stored as fat (1) when consumed in high volumes.
So, the troubling dilemma presents itself: sift through which of your favorite foods are “okay” to eat from time to time, or enjoy more sensible starches regularly. We’ve put together a list of alternatives, so you can have your cake and eat it, too!
Don’t Eat This | Eat This |
---|---|
Fries. |
Baked Potato Wedges Baked potato wedges offer all that French fry and potato goodness, minus the oil and saturated fat. |
Pasta |
Zucchini Pasta The best part of pasta is the shape and texture, and with zucchini pasta you get the full package without the extra helping of carbs. |
Pastries You often hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is why pastries made of sugar and carbs are not the fresh start you’re looking for. |
Breakfast Frittata |
Mashed Potatoes |
(2) Mashed Cauliflower A fan of the milk, butter and sour cream in mashed potatoes, but not the carbs? Try subbing cauliflower for potatoes and you’ll have the same creamy goodness plus an extra helping of vitamin C. (4) |
Pizza |
Portobello Pizza Try a different take on pizza (with the same amount of pizazz). When you opt for a portobello mushroom instead of dough crust, you get 5 grams of protein and almost none of the carbs.(5) |
Still finding it hard to cut out carbs? Products like Modere’s Carb Blocker can give you a helping hand by reducing the number of carbs your body metabolizes. So, you can keep up the good fight with a little bit less guilt when you find cheating to be irresistible.
Carb Blocker delays the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates to help you lose the weight. Always read the label. Use only as directed. Healthy weight loss requires a balanced, calorie responsible meal plan and regular exercise.
(1)SFGATE. What Is Bad About Starches Medically? healthyeating.sfgate.com
(2)SELFNutritionData. Potatoes, mashed, home-prepared, whole milk and butter added. nutritondata.self.com
(3)Scott, Jennifer. Pizza Nutrition Facts. verywell.com
(4)The world’s healthiest foods. Cauliflower. whfoods.com
(5)SELFNutritionData. Mushrooms, portabella, grilled. nutritiondata.self.com