Easy and Healthy Junk Food Substitutions

I'm not going to lie and say that I don't like junk food, because I do. And eating french fries or a bowl of ice cream here and there is perfectly fine. However, I have recently come across a few recipes for food that can easily be substitutes for junk food. These options are a lot healthier, and still taste great too!

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Energy Bites

These yummy and chewy bites are the perfect substitution for sugary granola bars, chocolate chip cookies, or even brownies. These are so easy to make, and they taste delicious!

Recipe:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup honey
1 cup old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted and cooled
1/2 cup ground flax seed meal
6 tbsp chocolate chips (I used regular sized ones, but minis would probably work better)
(makes 25 bites)

Directions:
In a bowl, mix together peanut butter, vanilla extract, and honey. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until evenly distributed. Place the bowl in the fridge for around 15-20 minutes. Shape the mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. I then put the baking sheet into the fridge for a few minutes to insure that they would stay together, but you could probably skip this step. Transfer the bites into an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator.

Recipe from GimmeSomeOven.

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Carrot Chips/Fries

These sweet yet salty fries are an awesome substitute for the ever-so-yummy french fries, and they are so quick and easy to make!

{these are what the fries look like before you cook them- I was unable to take a pic after they cooked because my parents started eating them!}

What you need:

3-4 large carrots

olive oil

salt

Directions:

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Next wash and peel the carrots, and then cut them into french fry-sized pieces. Put them into a bowl and pour a bit of olive oil over them (not too much or they will be soggy-yuck!). Place them on a baking sheet, and sprinkle salt on top. Finally, cook them in the oven for around 12 minutes.





 I think I may try to do more of these posts in the future, so let me know how you like them!

xoxo

Alyssa