Junk food cravings can be quite hard to deal with, but I know something that might help you!

If you constantly experience junk food cravings, I get you because I have them too. When I’m at home with my husband and we’re watching a movie, my mind immediately goes to chips because I love their crispiness, great flavor, and greasy feeling (yep, I like that very much).

And during hot days at the office, there’s nothing that would motivate me more than a huge ice cream from Dairy Queen. I’m a foodie, and I have junk food cravings at least once a week. Nice to meet you.

If you’re like me but you don’t want to feed your body with all these unnecessary things that don’t contain any nutrients and minerals, I’ve got you. It took me a bit of time to discover healthier alternatives to my junk food favorites because I tend to be picky, and now that I know how to satisfy my cravings, I want to share all of my tips with you.

Whether you want to eat healthier, make your skin look better, boost your metabolism, drop a couple of pounds, or give a positive example to your household members, I’m here for you. Let’s say goodbye to junk food cravings and welcome these healthier and even more delicious alternatives!

1. French fries

French fries are my ride-or-die, and I could eat them with everything because they taste amazing. They’re good for the soul, but not for the body, so I try to stay away from the oily ones available in fast food restaurants and create my own instead.

If you have an air fryer, you can make a wonderful batch of healthy French fries in 20 minutes (check this one out; it cooks your food wonderfully), but don’t worry, you can use your oven as well. Wash and peel your potatoes, cut them as thin as you want, sprinkle them with a tablespoon or two of olive oil, add some salt and pepper, and pop them in the oven or the air fryer for 20–40 minutes.

Take them out when they’re nice and crispy, and get ready to make them taste divine. The secret lies in the spices and condiments. I have the perfect spice combo for you: curry, oregano, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme.

I love garlic dip, but I know those from the grocery stores aren’t good for me, so I’ve developed a healthier, nutritious, and flavorful recipe: chopped garlic, green yogurt, a teaspoon of olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, and parsley. Mix, mix, mix, dip your fries in, and enjoy!

You’ll satisfy your junk food craving, and you won’t need fries from fast food restaurants ever again. If you want to take it a step further and turn this into a proper meal, fry two eggs, add sausage, and some cheddar, and get ready to be amazed.

2. Veggie chips

If your junk food craving is for chips, I get you, but I have a healthier and tastier alternative for you. You already know that veggies are amazing for you, so why not make them into a recipe that will make you forget about chips?

Grab your favorite veggies (mine are broccoli, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, onion, garlic, radish, and celery root) and cut them thinly, sprinkle them with olive oil and spices, and pop them in the oven or the fryer. You can also use kale to hit your greens goal for the day, and if you want to add a cheesy flavor, you can put some nutritional yeast on them. It’s tasty, healthy, and perfect to make those junk food cravings disappear!

3. Nice cream

You’ve probably heard about nice cream (the cream that results from blending frozen bananas), and I have a recipe for you. If you have an ice cream craving and want to swap it for something healthier and more nutritious, you only need one or two frozen, ripe bananas and half a tablespoon of peanut butter.

Add these two ingredients to a powerful blender and enjoy. You can add a splash of milk if the mixture is too thick, and if you want a chocolate flavor, you can add some chocolate chips to your bowl. You’ll have proteins, carbs, healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins; your body and soul will be happy, and your junk food cravings will be gone!

4. Power balls

If your junk food craving tells you to eat a donut, I recommend you try power balls, because they’re amazing and will nourish your body. Combine your favorite nut butter with oats, honey or maple syrup, chocolate chip, and dried fruit, mix everything, and roll them into balls. Put them in the fridge for a couple of hours, then enjoy!

This flavorful snack is perfect for your body as it’s full of protein, healthy fats, and good carbs. If you want to boost your protein intake, you can add your favorite protein powder to the mixture, which will fuel your gorgeous muscles!

5. Avocado and cocoa pudding

If your junk food craving is all about chocolate pudding, I have an amazing alternative for you. It’s not packed with sugar, is full of healthy fats that will benefit your body and brain, is full of flavors, has an amazing chocolatey taste, and takes less than 10 minutes to make.

All you need for this recipe are avocado, cocoa powder, maple syrup, dairy-free milk, and vanilla extract. Grab your blender, put all these ingredients in, mix well, and enjoy. If you want a deeper chocolatey flavor, you can sprinkle some cacao nibs on top, and it will be even better!

6. Chocolate-dipped nuts or fruits

Many people have mentioned that their junk food cravings are all about candy, and today we’ll talk about a healthier and more nutritious alternative. Grab your favorite fruits and cut them into pieces.

While you do that, melt some dark chocolate for 30 seconds in the microwave. Dip your fruits, or nuts,vif you want a protein and healthy fat boost, into the melted chocolate, put them on a tray, and pop them in the freezer for at least an hour. Isn’t this snack way better than candy?

7. Fruity sparkling water

We’re almost done with these junk food cravings, but we couldn’t end today’s article without mentioning something for all beverage people. If you want to enjoy a bubbly drink that won’t make you bloat and won’t cause your acne or tooth pain, I know what you can drink instead.

Grab a water pitcher and get ready to fill it with amazing things: sparkling water, lemon juice, mint leaves, blueberries, and cucumber slices. This drink has the bubbles you crave, but the combination of fruits and mint will help your body flush toxins, your skin be more luminous and plump, and your junk food craving will be satisfied. Try it, and let me know in the comments if you liked it!

What do you think about these junk food alternatives? Would you consider trying any of these foods? I couldn’t recommend them enough, so let me know what you think. If you find this article helpful and you want to check out something else from Nutrition in the USA, here’s a good post for you: Trader Joe’s Is Recalling Popular Food Items—Make Sure You Don’t Eat Them