Try as we might, avoiding 'unhealthy' food really bloody hard.We all know the drill - everything in moderation, eat your vegetables and maybe don’t drink the entire bottle wine on your own. But sometimes a that bag of nuts you’ve been trailing around at the bottom of your bag just won’t cut it when you’ve got've hankering for something. And that’s totally fine.
Which is why we’ve pulled together some foodie inspiration for you to take forth and whip up something just as delicious as what you really want, but not quite as unhealthy as the real deal.
1. Mini eggplant (Aubergine) pizzas
Pizza is bloody great. But sadly we should probably accept that it’s normally not the most nutritious of dinner options. And that’s coming from someone who’s pizza delivery box tally has been dangerously high come the end of the week. So, we have an alternative. Meet the aubergine mini pizza. The recipe from Kayla’s Kitchen is really straight forward. It works as a snack or as part of a meal for a hit of that cheesey, tomatoey goodness that you’re after with the added bonus of a veggie base.
2. Salmon and avocado burger
Swapping the red meat for salmon is a definite step up on the health and nutrition scale, right? We’re going with yes. We’re always being told that we should try to get at least two portions of fish a week into our diets and a burger seems like a perfectly acceptable way to do it. The Laughing Spatula has a great recipe. Whack yourself some avocado in there (because avo will forever and always be one of those Things) and you’re flying. Well done you.
3. Cauliflower mac and cheese
The comfort food of all comfort foods. But comfort food always tends to come with a ‘this really isn’t healthy but you can eat it because you’ve had a shit day and are feeling sorry for yourself’ label attached to them. But not this one my friends. You have this one when you’re feeling damn good about yourself. Make like Pret and through some cauliflower into the mix alongside the pasta to add a dose of veg to your concoction to earn yourself a mini pat on the pack. Or go one step further and try the vegan Produce on Parade recipe for a slightly lighter version.
4. Thai sweet potato curry
Have you ever opened up the curry you ordered from the takeaway down the road only to find a thick layer of oil floating around on top of your Tikka Masala? Well as delicious as it may be once you’ve given it a stir and pretended it wasn’t there, making your own curry is always a healthier way to go about it. If you want to be really, really good, try a veg heavy one like on Pinch of Yum. Takes very little effort to make and tastes ah-maze.
5. Parmesan and garlic parsnip fries
Okay, so not the cheesey chips you’re used to, BUT there is cheese and there are chips. Parsnips don’t get enough credit, you guys. They’re just snuck into your roast dinner somewhere between the carrots and potatoes without so much of a ‘hey, these actually taste pretty good’. Well not any more. They’re higher in fiver than your average tater and roast up a treat. Do as Dashing Dish does and chop some up into your preferred shape of chip, sprinkle with parmesan and throw into the oven and boom! Win for you.
6. Four ingredient strawberry coconut ice cream
First things first. You can totally be one of those people who casually makes their own ice cream in their spare time. Honest. And you can do it with minimum actual effort too. Jessica in the Kitchen’s recipe is ridiculously easy and looks impressively enticing. There are times when ice cream is a necessity. But if the ice cream you reach for happens to be homemade and without all of the extra rubbish that goes into those artificial tasting ones, you’ve earned the right to be really smug about it.
7. Chocolate cake
Because sometimes you just need a giant piece of naughty looking chocolate cake, like this one from the King Arthur Flour blog. Don’t even pretend you don’t want to roll around in that frosting...
Like this? You might also be interested in…
How Unhealthy Are Your Favourite Drunk Foods? It’s Time To Face Up
Bring On The Cake: Eating Chocolate For Breakfast Has Serious Health Benefits
Follow Jazmin on Instagram @JazKopotsha
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.