Sometimes it happens that your favorite local grocery store is out of your favorite products. Or you are allergic to some of the items on our grocery list. Or maybe you just hate fish so much that the very thought of it evokes a gag reflex. Whatever your reasons for loving or hating certain foods, there is always an alternative. There are always food and drink options with the same nutritional value that you will definitely enjoy.
And to help you out with this uneasy burden, we came up with a very useful list of substitute options:
Seafood
Without any doubt, seafood is not for everyone and it’s your right to not like it. If you are looking for an alternative, try baked halloumi with garlic and rosemary, salmon or eggs.
Stewed lentils
Lentils can be hard on your stomach. They are very rich in fiber, over 15g per cup, cooked. That’s a lot. And since a lot of people can’t digest so much fiber, they end up feeling bloated. To avoid that, we recommend to switch to goat cheese, chickpeas, steamed clams with tomatoes, garlic and olives.
Nuts
Just like lentils, nuts can upset your stomach. But not because of the fiber. Nuts contain a little thing called phytic acid that our stomach just can’t digest. But good news, there are some alternatives you can try — sunflower seeds, coconut, olives, tehina, avocado, eggs, unrefined oil.
Chocolate with nuts
This one is easy. A regular chocolate bar is loaded with sugar and fat. Nuts? Read above. Therefore, if you find yourself craving something chocolatish, try cocoa with coconut milk.
Here are some more diet-friendly options: marmalade, coconut yogurt, chia pudding, homemade whole wheat cookies, peanut butter.
Flaxseed porridge
Not everyone likes the strange taste of flax seeds and this is normal. You don’t have to eat them just because they are so popular. Try toasted sourdough bread with avocado instead. Same nutritional value, but a way better taste.
Lightly salted salmon
If you are not a big fan of salted salmon, switch for its alternatives: herring, caviar, goat cheese, beans, tofu, tempeh.
Meat
Just like with seafood and fish, you have every right to not eat red meat. You can always switch for other sources of protein like fish, seafood, paultry, organic dairy products, eggs.
Quinoa
Buckwheat and quinoa are superfoods that are naturally gluten-free. This makes buckwheat a great alternative for quinoa.
Hummus
A great alternative for hummus would be — dorado, tuna, cod liver, squid, lentil pate, curry, clams.
Don’t fancy cod liver? Try caviar, nuts or seeds instead.
Bread
The best alternative for bread is rice. You might think: “Rice is high in carbs, but so is bread”. This is true, but unlike bread, rice is also rich in nutrients which makes it a great source of energy. And most importantly, it’s generally gluten-free.
Juice
There are so many benefits to drinking freshly squeezed juices. They enrich our bodies with antioxidants. They do not contain any preservatives and filled with natural sugar. However, if you are looking for a healthy snack, drinking a glass of freshly squeezed juice might not be the best idea as it can cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. For a quick and healthy snack, opt for a smoothie.
