The Search for Healthier Food Alternatives

Sometimes sticking to a diet or nutrition plan gets people confused about what food alternatives they should be choosing instead of the regular go-to foods. Have you ever found yourself in that scenario: trying to eat healthy or eat for a specific diet and found yourself at a grocery store wondering, “What can I actually eat here?” After all, the food that you choose to eat affects your blood pressure, energy level, and even your skin

Fortunately, we put together this handy food alternatives reference for you to have. Now you will always know what you can actually eat and you will have ideas on how you can substitute what you love and enjoy with different, healthier options.

Flours/Breads Alternatives:

• Almond Flour
• Coconut Flour
• Cassava Flour
• Brown Rice Flour
• Ezekiel Bread (Frozen Section)
• Sprouted Grains
• Against the Grain (Natures)
• 20 Shekels Almond Butter Bread (Natures or 20 Shekels Bakery)
• Kara Lynn’s Almond Butter Bread (Natures or Kara Lynn’s)

Pasta/Rice Alternatives:

• Chick Pea Pasta (Banza)
• Brown Rice Noodles
• Brown rice Pad Thai Noodles
• Brown Rice
• Forbidden Black Rice
• Wild Rice
• Cauliflower Rice (Frozen section/produce section)
• Zucchini Noodles (Make your own
• Shirataki Miracle Noodles (Yam Noodles)

Tortilla Alternatives:

• Coconut Tortillas
• Cassava Flour Tortillas

Chips/Popcorn/Cracker Alternatives:

• Sweet Potato Chips
• Sorghum (popcorn)
• Avoid harmful oils like canola, safflower
• Look for “Cooked in coconut/avocado oil
• Wasa Crackers
• Ryvita Crackers
• Blue Diamond Nut Crackers
• Almond Flour/ Nut Flower Crackers

Fermented Food:

• Organic Pickles (No sugar/preservatives)
• Organic Sauerkraut
• Olives
• Kombucha

Condiment Alternatives:

Yes, it’s true! Popular condiments can be filled with unexpected sugars, oils, and other preservatives that makes some wonder, “Why does ketchup need so much sugar in it?” Here are some other healthier choices.

• Primal Kitchen Mayonnaise
• Westbrae Organic Unsweetened Ketchup
• Soy Sauce Alternative: Coconut Aminos, Braggs Liquid Aminos
• Sea Salt
• Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
• Organic Seasonings

Protein Powders/Bars:

These are good grab and go meals or snacks for those who don’t get a long lunch break, or need to augment their calorie and protein intake because of an exercise routine. It can be tempting to just grab anything with the word “Power”on it, however, a little forethought or change in your shopping routine can make a huge difference in your health when you are on the go.

• Paleo Pro Protein Powder (Cacao, Vanilla, Mocha, Plain)
• Vital Proteins Collagen and Peptides
• Grass Fed Whey Protein (Nature’s Brand)
• Standard Process Protein Powder
• RX Bars (Avoid Cashews and peanuts)
• Scout Bars (Avoid Cashews and Peanuts)

Natural Sweeteners / Sweet Treats:

• Raw Honey
• 100 % Pure Maple Syrup
• Stevia (Raw or no other additives)
• Stevia Liquid
• Pure Monk Fruit (No Additives)
• Lilly’s Stevia sweetened dark chocolate/chips
• Chocolate Avocado Pudding (Nature’s/ Make your own Online Recipe)

Milk/Cheese:

• Hazelnut Milk
• Coconut Milk
• Almond Milk
• Organic Milk
• A2 Milk
• A2 Cheese
• Sheep/Goat Cheese
• Grass-fed cheese (Earthfare/Natures)
• Raw grass-fed Cheese
• Organic/ grass-fed Heavy Whipping Cream

Butters:

• Ghee
• Amish Butter
• Organic Butter (Grass fed or Pasture raised)
• Almond Butter with no sugar/ palm, canola, or safflower oils.
• Almond Butter/ Peanut butter from a grinder at Whole foods or Earthfare

Yogurts:

• Plain Greek Yogurt
• Almond Yogurt
• Coconut Yogurt
• Avoid phrases like “Sugar Free” “Fat Free”

Meat:

• Organic Grass fed Meat (Cheaper at Earthfare)
• Pasture Raised Organic Eggs
• Pasture Raised Organic Chicken
• Green Wise (Publix)

Seafood:

• Wild Caught Fish (Frozen Section, Costco)
• Wild Caught Tuna (Canned)
• Avoid Farm Raised Fish

Coffee/Tea:

• Coffee: Java Planet
• Organic and Loose Leaf Teas (Avoid Tea Bags)
• Southern Botanical’s Loose Leaf Tea (Local Store in Clearwater)

Other Drinks:

• Stevia Sweetened Lemonade (Natures)
• Coconut Water (No added sugars)
• Kombucha (Low to no sugars)
• Lemon/Citrus water (slice up citrus fruits)

Alternative Food Stores:

• Whole Foods
• Nature’s Food Patch
• Earthfare
• Costco
• 20 Shekels Bakery
• Trevor’s Kitchen (Food Service)
• Lake View Produce (Organic Produce Options)
• Sprouts

Organic/Alternative Restaurants:

• Kara Lynn’s
• Karma’s
• Knee Deep Coffee Shop.