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    User post: 8 Healthier Alternatives to Our Favorite Junk Foods

    By | Shine Food – Fri, Jul 24, 2009 4:13 AM EDT

    In case you weren't aware, tuesday was National Junk Food Day. As if we really needed another excuse to binge on junk food to begin with.

    The next time you are feeling the junk food munchie attack, consider these 8 healthier alternatives to the following junk food cravings all of us are susceptible to.

    Craving a chocolate candy bar? Have a square of dark chocolate instead. Dark chocolate is said to lower blood pressure and is a potent antioxidant--qualities that are not found in milk chocolate or white chocolate. Plus, a simple, elegant square of dark chocolate lacks the caramel, oily peanuts, toffee bits and other not-so-healthy things that are found in most chocolate candy bars.

    Craving ice cream? Have plain yogurt with fruits, honey and nuts on top. Go for non-frozen yogurt because the nutritional difference between ice cream and frozen yogurt isn't very big to begin with. Also, it is highly likely your body is just craving something cold and sweet--so make it extra-refreshing with some generous chunks of real fruit.

    Craving chocolate chip cookies? Have granola bars instead. Chocolate chip cookies are full of sugar, hydrogenated oil, white flour and other chemicals that do plenty of damage to your nutritional intake. A granola bar, on the other hand, might actually give you some nutrients in addition to dispelling a little of the sweet tooth craving you are having. Make sure the granola bar you choose has no additives or preservatives.

    Craving potato chips? Have kale chips, edamame, rice cakes, unsalted pretzels, or low-fat microwave popcorn instead. Maybe you just really want to aimlessly stuff your face with something and it doesn't necessarily have to be a bag of super-oily, super-unhealthy potato chips.

    Craving sugary candy? Have dried fruit instead. They are sweet in a natural way that won't make you feel like you're going to wake up with a head full of cavities the next day. Try different dried fruits spiced in different flavors, and you will find that they have a more interesting and satisfying taste palette than a bag of Skittles.

    CONTINUE READING 8 HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES TO JUNK FOOD ON INTENT.COM

    By Yumi Sakugawa on Intent.com


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