- I will not 100% replace delicious pasta with spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles – real carbs and veggie noodles have a place in our diets!
- I will not eat cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips, because the real deal is fantastic 🙂
- I do not bake with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar
1. Use applesauce, yogurt, pumpkin, or avocado for some butter or oil in baking recipes.
Whether you’re baking muffins for work or bringing cookies to a cookie swap, find some tasty options that swap in some yummy ingredients like pumpkin or yogurt for excess butter/oil.
Need some ideas? Try my Greek Yogurt Blackberry Muffins with Honey Oat Streusel, Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies, or Pumpkin Blondies!
2. Add broccoli, kale, or cauliflower to casserole dishes.
Adding in veggies to your favorite casserole recipe is a great way to add bulk and nutrients without compromising taste!
Need some ideas? Try my Potato & Greens Gratin, Mexican Veggie Quinoa Bake (pictured) or Chestnut Stuffing with Kale.
3. Use nuts + seeds on your salad instead of croutons.
It’s a simple crunchy swap you probably already keep on hand at home – sunflower/pumpkin seeds, pecan/walnut halves, and slivered almonds are some of my favorites.
Need some ideas? Try my Red Grape, Walnut, and Goat Cheese Salad, Cinnamon Roasted Carrot and Farro Salad, or Arugula Salad with Pink Grapefruit and Almonds.
4. Replace a few holiday drink stops with green juice, hot tea, and extra hydration.
Carrying a water bottle around, if you don’t already, is a great way to check in on your thirst. If that gets boring, try playing around with flavor (tea, lemon, etc.). I also love grabbing a green juice, like Naked Juice’s Green Machine, boosted with spirulina, broccoli, leafy greens, garlic, wheatgrass, ginger + parsley!
Need some ideas? Try Naked Juice’s Green Machine, apple cinnamon tea, hot lemon water with honey, or flavoring water with lemon or mint.
5. Try using mashed avocado or Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
I’m sure many of you already do this – as mashed avocado and Greek yogurt bring lots of moisture and tasty flavor to sandwiches, egg/chicken/tuna salads, or holiday dips and spreads.
Need some ideas? Try my Chickpea Salad with Apples, Celery and Walnuts, Greek Yogurt Dip for Veggies, or mashing avocado into sandwich bread to moisten sandwiches.
6. Instead of reaching for the cookie tray, stock up on your favorite healthy alternatives.
Some of my favorites include squares of dark chocolate, dark chocolate almonds, or a satisfying trail mix. I also love to make big batches of my energy bite recipes to store in the freezer!
Need some ideas? Try my Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix, 5 Ingredient Trail Mix Cookies, or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites (pictured).
7. Try subbing in part spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles into some of your favorite pasta dishes.
Whether as a swap for half of the noodles or a whole bowl of zoodles, trying these veggies as noodles is an awesome way to bulk up a pasta dish with veggies and nutrients!
Need some ideas? Try my Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Casserole, Peanut Zucchini Noodle Salad, or even a Zucchini Noodle Frittata.
I hope these ideas help you think about how you’ll keep up your favorite healthy habits throughout the holiday season – and still enjoy the pies at the Thanksgiving table and the cookie swap at work. I know I’m looking forward to it all!
Disclaimer: I am not a Registered Dietitian; all opinions are my own. The suggestions above work for me, but consult a doctor or RD before making changes to your diet.
Pragati // Simple Medicine says
These are so good!!! Pinning 🙂 My favorite swap is a mocktail for a cocktail – less calories, just as much fun!
Marisa says
Thanks Pragati! Love that swap too – making a fancy sparkling water drink with no alcohol.
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen says
Great ideas Marisa! All about that balance of healthier swaps but still keeping it real 😉
Marisa says
Thanks, Ashley! Glad you’re all about keeping it real too.
Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple says
All such great ideas!! Especially #1! It’s so easy to swap an ingredient 🙂
Marisa says
Healthy cooking swaps are fun to play around with! Thanks, Liz.
Laura says
Oh these are fabulous ideas! I must share with my clients, thanks!
Marisa says
I hope it’s helpful to them, Laura! Thanks for sharing!
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
Love these swaps! Totally with you on adding healthier food into recipes instead of replacing everything. I love veggies, but spiralized veggies are not the same as pasta!
Marisa says
Definitely! I love veggies too and they have their place next to pasta 😉
Cassie @ Almost Getting it Together says
Love that you are KEEPING IT REAL – zucchini noodles have a place in our diet but they AREN’T pasta!
All amazingggg tips. I love adding extra veggies to dishes whenever possible to bulk them up and add more nutrition!
Marisa says
Thanks Cassie!!
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life says
Great ideas! The greek yogurt for sour cream one is my fav swap that I always do. They taste basically the same anyways 🙂
Marisa says
Absolutely – they taste the same to me too!
Margaret @ youngandrungry says
This is such a smart post, I had to pin it! These tricks are all so easy and you definitely don’t have to sacrifice any flavor. I rarely make a recipe without swapping for something healthier!
Marisa says
Thanks Margaret!