5 Alternatives to Junk Food and How to Make Them

It’s one of life’s unanswered questions. Why do the naughtiest foods taste so good? Of course, we like a good salad and green juice as much as the next person, but the temptation of a steak sandwich with melted butter and fried onions, or a family-sized bar of chocolate will sadly never lose their appeal.

So, we thought we could meet in the middle – by enjoying healthy versions of junk food. Not convinced? Try at least one of these recipes – it could change the way you eat!

Crisps

 

Our ultimate vice, how can you beat a bowl of crisps to munch on? Sadly with so much saturated fat and high salt levels, they can only be an occasional treat. However, we’ve got a recipe which does it the healthy way, meaning we can snack on them a lot more – hooray!

You’ll need:

• Potatoes
• Frylight Rapeseed Oil Cooking Spray 
• Seasoning

Method:
Peel potatoes and thinly slice them.
In a pot of boiling water, cook the potato slices for 3 minutes.
Drain well and combine with oil, salt pepper and spices in a large bowl.
Place potato slices on prepared baking sheet in one layer.
Bake for about 15 minutes until crisp and golden brown.

Chips/Fries

 

The great British invention – nothing beats a good chip. We show you how to enjoy healthy chips to enjoy with a salad, on their own, or even with a nice piece of fish!

You’ll need:

• Potatoes
• Coconut oil 
• Air fryer 

Method:
Scrub potatoes and then slice into strips.
Soak potatoes in a bowl of fresh water for 30 minutes.
Drain water and pat dry.
Pour over coconut oil and mix through. Add seasoned salt and toss to coat.
Place potatoes into Air Fryer Basket.

Air Fry at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, shaking the basket half way through.

Healthy “fried” chicken

 

Just because you made a vow to cut out the junk, it doesn’t mean you have to wave farewell to succulent fried chicken. There’s just not much that’s fried about this recipe, but don’t worry – it’s still yummy!

You’ll need:

• Chicken thighs (any part of the chicken will do, but we think thighs have the best flavour)
• Milk
• Butter
• Flour
• Spices 

Method:
Soak chicken thighs in milk for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius.
In a baking dish, slice the butter into about 8-10 pieces and place around dish.
In a large bowl, place flour, season all, pepper, and paprika and mix with a wooden spoon.
Bake for about 20 minutes, then flip each piece.

Ice cream

 

Didn’t think it was possible to have healthy ice cream? Think again. This one-ingredient recipe is a game changer.

You’ll need:

• Bananas
• Blender
• Additional ingredients of your choice, chocolate chips, peanut butter, Nutella

 

Method:
Take your bananas, making sure they’re ripe or even on the turn, put them into a freezer bag and stick them in the freezer. Leave them overnight and then whizz them in a blender. Voila! Banana ice cream, ready to be enjoyed on its own, or with a sneaky addition!

Pasta

 

Every so often, we feel like eating our body weight in pasta. However, this carb overload isn’t great for our bodies, which is why the rise in alternatives to pasta are one of the most talked about culinary trends in recent years. Get yourself a spiraliser and let the fun begin!

You’ll need:

• A selection of vegetables – courgettes, carrots, butternut squash etc
• Spiraliser

Method:
Follow the instructions on your spiraliser and enjoy as a healthy, balanced meal with your favourite tomato sauce.

What are your no-brainer healthy recipes? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!