5 Healthy Foods that Help You Kick Cravings

When you're on a weight loss journey you will inevitably have cravings. Even if you're determined to meet your goals, sometimes it's hard to resist all the fatty and sugar filled foods that you used to eat. It is times like these that you need a safety net to keep you from slipping up and ruining all your hard work. Here's my list of five amazing foods that are full of vitamins and nutrients, but taste good enough to kill those nagging cravings.

1. Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
Yes, spaghetti! Don't get too excited...it's not the traditional spaghetti you're thinking about. My spaghetti and meat sauce is absolutely pasta free. Instead I use a lovely little veggie known as spaghetti squash. This gourd can be cut in half, seeds removed, and baked in the oven for about 45 minutes. Once taken out and cooled the squash can be separated with a fork and looks like little pasta ribbons. What's amazing about this squash is that the entire thing packs only 45 calories, not to mention tons of calcium and potassium as well. Pair this squash with your favorite meat sauce recipe like this one from Skinny Taste and you will be in pasta free heaven!

2. Sweet Potato Fries
French fries are the devil. A small size fry from any local fast food chain can have 400+ calories and tons of salt and fat. The best alternative that I have found is sweet potato fries. A medium sized sweet potato is only about 100 calories and is extremely nutritious since it contains vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K.

3. Iced Green Tea
If you're a Southern girl like I am, it's so hard giving up iced sweet tea. While it tastes amazing, it's nothing more than glorified sugar water. Indulging in a glass of sweet tea will send your blood sugar levels on a frenzy for the rest of the day and probably lead to even more intense sugar cravings. My favorite substitute is iced green tea. Not only is this tea full of antioxidants that support healthy hair, skin, and nail growth, but it also is a great metabolism booster. I prepare this tea using Stevia, a popular sugar substitute. What makes Stevia so great is that it has a glycemic index number of 0, meaning it has little to no effect on blood sugar. Now of course you could use Stevia to make regular iced sweet tea, but it won't have nearly as many benefits as green tea.

4. Salmon Burgers
Hamburgers seem to be a staple in American culture. While they can be oh so delicious, the calorie content can be catastrophic to any diet. Salmon burgers are a tasty solution to all burger craving woes. Salmon is a powerhouse packed with omega-3's, protein, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. Salmon is known to help cognitive function, improve eye health, and is connected to a decrease in cardiovascular problems. Try this amazing recipe from Cooking Light, but remember: buns can be deadly. Opt for whole wheat and low calorie bread.

5. Almond Breeze Chocolate Milk
This is my go to substitute when I need a chocolate fix. The unsweetened version is about 45 calories per serving and is chalk full of vitamins. It's a great go to when you are having cravings because you can have a nice tall glass and not feel bad about it. In those particularly desperate moments I suggest you try out the sweetened version. While you will get more sugars and about 120 calories per serving, it's pure chocolate deliciousness.

Hope this helps all you out there struggling with cravings. Remember, mind over stomach!

Love & Blessings,

- A