Crunchy Food Substitutes

Do you like crunchy foods? Maybe salty, crunchy foods? You’re not alone! Many of us do but unfortunately, much of the crunchy snacks and foods available do not support good health.

I used to be addicted to nacho cheese flavored tortilla chips. I could eat a bag in one sitting if I let myself. I loved the salty, spicy taste and most of all I loved the crunch! I eventually realized I had to stop and I did. I quit eating tortilla chips cold turkey. It was hard at first. I really missed my crunchy go-to snack! But I was determined to stop eating chips so I persevered. I began to search for alternative snacks and discovered kale chips. I remember the first time I had them I thought, “These taste too good not to be bad for me”. And while kale chips may not be the healthiest food choice, it is a huge improvement over processed cheese flavored corn chips bought in the store! So I found my substitue but it has now been several years since I ate kale chips. After finally getting off the store-bought chips, I learned I wasn’t addicted to the crunchy as much as I was addicted to the artificial flavors and texture enhancers! With the kale chips I was getting the crunch but not the chemicals. Once I got un-addicted to the chemicals, the crunch wasn’t a big deal. Today, I do not crave crunchy foods and if I do want something crunchy, I eat nuts.

I am not alone in the challenge to find healthy, crunchy foods. Patients regularly ask me about it so I thought it might be helpful to list some crunchy food substitutes that you can enjoy while also keeping your health improvement goals.

Crunchy Food Alternatives

So you’re missing the crunchy foods you love while getting off the grains and processed foods? Here is a list of alternative foods that will satisfy your desire to crunch. Please remember, if you have tested sensitive to any food on this list, don’t eat it!

· Tera chips

· Siete chips made with cassava flour

· Kale chips

· Beet chips

· Nuts

· Raw sugar snap peas

· Snow peas

· Almond crackers (a popular favorite!)

· Flackers made with flaxseed flour. (Check out flackers.com)

· Cheese crisps.

· Kohlrabi (German turnip), turnips or cucumbers. Raw, sliced with salt to taste.

Here’s a recipe for making your own Kale chips. They’re delicious!

Kale Chips

1 bunch kale

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Line a non-insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper. With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite-size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with Celtic Sea Salt®. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

Remember, eating a healthy diet doesn’t mean eating a boring diet. You can still enjoy delicious, tasty, fun foods that will support optimal health and function. In the end, being healthy feels so much better than junk food tastes! If you need help straightening out your diet or if you suffer with severe food cravings, give us a call. I believe I can help!