Eating more healthy can seem daunting, but a few simple swaps can get you off to a great start.
Mac and cheese
Do I even need to say it? Sodium, fat, refined carbs — mac and cheese is a healthy-eating minefield.
Healthier mac and cheese
To make a healthier mac and cheese, you can swap pasta for cauliflower or lighten up the sauce.
Chicken nuggets
Chicken nuggets are an easy meal for picky kids, but they can be loaded with sodium and fillers.
Chicken, quinoa and sweet potato nuggets
These nuggets use lean ground chicken, sweet potato and quinoa for a healthy but tasty alternative.
Classic meatloaf
Classic meatloaf is so, so good, but all that red meat and fat make it a once-in-a-while kind of meal.
Healthier meatloaf
Have meatloaf anytime when you swap beef for turkey, add extra veggies or make it vegan.
Lasagna
Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, but all that cheese, pasta and meat can weigh you down.
More vegetables, please
Swap meat for roasted veggies or noodles for spaghetti squash for healthy lasagna that still satisfies.
Pizza
Pizza is everyone’s favorite, but it can be a nutritional zero, especially when loaded with meat.
Veggie pizza
Opt for a thin-crust veggie slice when eating out, or make a cauliflower crust pizza at home.
Chicken potpie
Buttery crust and a creamy interior make chicken potpie a fave, but it can be an empty calorie bomb.
Switch the milk, swap the crust
Using reduced-fat milk and adding more veggies make this “skinnified” chicken potpie healthier.
Alfredo pasta
Is there any pasta dish more decadent than Alfredo? But with all that butter and cream, it should be a rare treat.
Caulifredo
Feast on Alfredo whenever you want thanks to this silky cauliflower cream sauce.
Beef stew
Hearty beef stew hits the spot on a cold night, but a starch-thickened sauce spells trouble.
Brothy veggie beef stew
Add extra veggies to your stew, and don’t bother thickening the tasty broth.
Spinach-artichoke dip
Cheesy spinach dip is divine, but it’s almost too good — you can’t stick to just one serving.
Greek yogurt spinach dip
This lighter take on spinach dip is made with Greek yogurt and has just 300 calories in the entire bowl.
Buffalo wings
Fried wings doused in greasy Buffalo sauce are a delight but are best reserved for special occasions.
Choose cauliflower
When the craving strikes, opt for these baked Buffalo cauliflower bites with dairy-free sauce instead.
Nachos
Chips. Cheese. Sour cream. Nachos taste delightful, but their nutritional profile is frightful.
Skip the chips
Bell peppers make the perfect base for your favorite nacho toppings, reducing the fat, carbs and sodium.
Burgers
Sometimes you just want to bite into a burger without eating fatty red meat.
Bye-bye, beef
Opt for a lean chicken or bean and veggie burger for the same satisfaction, better nutrition.
Fried chicken
It’s impossible not to love crispy fried chicken, but all that oil can’t be good for you.
Baked chicken
Instead, try this crispy baked chicken that gets a flavor boost from crushed crackers.
Tacos
Nothing’s better than a taco, but between the filling, tortilla and toppings, it can be a diet buster.
Tasty lean tacos
Healthy tacos couldn’t be easier, whether you swap the filling for something lean or ditch the tortilla.
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