I’ve been on a bit of a food mission lately by trying to cut down on my sugar addiction and just learn to eat more healthily. I’ve became glued to blogs and books in order to find the best ways to eat without consuming too many nasties! Snacking is one of my main problem areas when it comes to food as I just love to snack so I’ve been loving trying to find new healthier alternatives to snack on during the day. A lot of the recipes that I’ve used have many common ingredients and I’ve really learnt about the importance of particular ingredients and how much they can do for me. Therefore, I thought I would share my top 5 ingredients that I just need to have in my kitchen!
Plant Based Milk
I always try to avoid consuming too much dairy as it can be bad for my skin. I tend to stick to a little yoghurt in the morning but try to steer away from too much milk! Instead, I’ve been opting for a plant-based milk, in my case Almond Milk. Opting for a plant based milk also supplies you with a whole lot of goodness for your body too so you won’t be lacking in calcium! I also opt for an unsweetened milk so I am not consuming anything with added sugar.
Nuts
Nuts are such a great cupboard staple, they are super versatile and can be used for snacking, main meals or dessert options. There are many different types of nuts with so many different nutritional values. I like to keep a mix and particularly favour almonds and cashews.
Maple Syrup/Honey
Cutting down on sugar can be a difficult step for a sweet tooth! However there is healthier sweetener options! Maple Syrup and Honey are both great options to add a little sweetness to a dish. There is a little stigma around the likes of Maple Syrup and how healthy it is however like honey it does have its nutritional values and is packed with antioxidants. Obviously though it is all about eating in moderation however I never feel like I need to add loads anyway!
Medjool Dates
I have never been the biggest fan of dried fruits so dates were never of interest however they make a great addition to so many sweet treat recipes. Medjool dates can be pretty pricey but they do last really long so I do like to buy in bulk, Amazon is always a charm! Again they are super nutritious and the Medjool kind are super gooey so add a beautiful creaminess and sweet taste to many recipes. I particularly rely on these for making a batch of energy balls!
Cacao Powder
Last but not least, Cacao is what every sweet treat lover needs. Cacao powder is essentially raw cocoa. It contains the great cocoa taste (although much stronger so you need a good bit less than normal cocoa powder!) yet isn’t as processed as cocoa is. Again it is super nutritious with antioxidants and is a great energy booster. It works perfectly in many snacks and baked treats to get that chocolate-y taste yet in a healthy way! Again it is pricey although I like to buy it in bulk and you only use a little as I said the taste is pretty strong!
What healthy ingredients do you rely on?
I have sworn by Almond milk for about 4 years now and it’s a way easier way to keep my everyday intake of dairy to a minimum which I like. I’ve also started weaning myself over to sweetening things with honey and keeping soft fruit or some nuts close to hand to just graze on in that 3pm lull.
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Plant based milk is like a revelation! So good to keep dairy intake to a low! Great! If you can replace sugary snacks with something healthy, it’s a great way to go!
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I’ve replaced white sugar with raw honey in my morning coffee and I really like it!
This is a good reminder that I should stock more nuts around – they’re great for snacking on!
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That’s great! It’s definitely the little things that make a big difference! Indeed, nuts are super good to have!
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Great! Honey and cacao are always in my pantry!
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Thanks! Great, they are definitely very useful!
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plant based dairy is so much better for you than actual dairy! after doing my research i replaced my milk with an almond alternative.
Abigail Alice x
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Indeed! I never really realised how bad dairy can be! I am definitely very happy replacing it with almond milk!
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Haha, give up dairy?!?! Never! 😀 I love my milk and cheese too much (and you gotta take your calcium with fats, anyway). But I take my coffee and tea without sugar/honey these days!
We always have nuts and dried fruits around, too. Yum!
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Haha don’t worry you can stick to your dairy! Great choices, the small amounts of added sugar always makes a difference, it’s great to finally cut it out!
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Ooh, I’ve never heard of medjool dates before… I like to put nuts/seeds in my salads but end up snacking on them 😀
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Medjool dates are super good, they are so gooey and chewy so make a great addition in many sweet recipes! That’s such a good idea, haha why not!
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I stopped drinking dairy milk about 5 years ago and it’s one of the best things I could have done for myself! If you’re looking for a natural sweetener, you could try stevia. You only need a couple drops of it and it sweetens well. Only thing is there can be a bit of an aftertaste for some people. Flax and chia seeds are also staples in my pantry 😊
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That’s great! I hope I can cut out dairy milk too even more, I hardly drink it anyway! Ooo interesting, thanks! Great staples, I really need to start using those!
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Good luck as you get more nutritious! If I can think of anything else I’ll let you know 🙂
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Thank you! That’s great!
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