Swap these 5 unhealthy pantry staples with these 5 healthier alternatives

Swapping out the not-so-healthy with the healthy can really give you a lot more to work with. And when it comes to pantry staples, this is the easiest and most effective switch you can make. Because you are reaching for these ingredients so often, it can make a big difference!

When cooking and meal prepping, use these easy swaps and save yourself calories while not compromising on taste!

5 easy swaps to make an unhealthy meal to a healthier one

1. Margarine 

Margarine contains trans fats which are the most HARMFUL fat in the food supply AND are a MAJOR contributing factor to the likes of cardiovascular disease.

Swap with: Full fat butter OR coconut oil

Full fat butter is a better alternative to margarine as buying full fat means it is less processed. Coconut oil on the other hand is a great alternative to margarine in baking and in creating delicious, guilt free, raw desserts.

2. White flour

This type of flour is processed and during that process it’s unfortunately stripped of it’s nutrients and vitamins. White flour is typically used for baking (something we love to do at The Healthy Mummy), so by making a simple swap, you can still enjoy yummy treats.

Swap with: Wholemeal flour OR Brown rice flour

Wholemeal flour is made from whole wheat grains meaning it’s nutritional value is high (much higher than white flour). It is also extremely high in fibre! Brown rice flour is high in nutrition and is also gluten-free (for those allergy babies).

3. Sugar

White sugar, like white flour is stripped of all it’s nutrients during processing. Sugar is also addictive and can lead to weight gain.

Read how cutting down on sugar helped this mum lose 25kg.

Swap with: Maple syrup

Pure maple syrup is the sugary sap from the maple tree which is then processed (naturally, there are no chemicals additives) into the thick syrup. Maple syrup contains vitamins such as energy, water and protein.

4. Canola oil

As a highly processed oil, canola is purely man made and does not come from a canola tree, unlike other high quality vegetable oils.

Swap with: Extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil contains modest amounts of Vitamins E and K and plenty of beneficial fatty acids. Extra virgin olive oil is also loaded with antioxidants, with so many benfits why wouldn’t you use it.

5. Store bought dressings and condiments

Some dressings actually have MORE calories per serve than all of the ingredients in your salad combined and the same goes for pasta sauce and condiments. Many sauces that seem quite simple or plain (think tomato and onion) can contain 8-10 teaspoons of sugar per family sized jar!

Swap with: Homemade dressings and sauces

Making your own sauce and dressing is the best way for you to stay on top of your weight loss goals while still enjoying the yummy things in life. Knowing what goes into your sauce and dressing helps to stay healthy plus if you make your own you can get more creative and still lose weight!

Get into the swing of swapping, here are 4 food swaps to lose belly fat!

Want recipes with less than 5 main ingredients that can be found in your pantry?