Healthy Swaps I Love
My number one rule when eating is to only eat things that taste good.
I typically go for healthy, feel good foods that love me back and would never settle for a “healthy something” that doesn’t actually taste good or satisfy me just because it’s “healthier.” Rather, I prefer to lean into what my body is telling me with a more intuitive style of eating. One where I prioritize food that is abundant, full of color, and is truly satisfying.
Eating whole, real foods is always a priority for me. This being said, there is a place for processed foods in our daily lives. And, there are so many delicious healthier options out there that are truly worth it! I wanted to share some of my favorite brands that help me eat and enjoy in a more conscious way. I intend to make this an ever growing list of things I come across and love. Keep reading for more!
Transition to more seasonal eating with a CSA
Probably my favorite thing I have done this summer was sign up for a CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. By committing to one you are not only supporting your community farms but you are getting the most fresh and local food you can buy. Eating seasonally will make the foods you are eating exponentially delicious and easier to create meals from real whole foods. Typically you receive recipes to go with the foods in your box for easy inspiration. If you are on the East End like I am, I joined Amber Waves Farm and cannot recommend it enough. Swapping store bought produce for local will be a game changer for you I promise.
Whether you have a dairy allergy or not, Monty’s Cream Cheese is amazing! I love spreading it on a bagel, in my ultimate veggie sandwich, and mixing it up with eggs to make them extra creamy. You have to order 4 at a time so I freeze them and pull out as I need. I love the plain, the scallion, rosemary truffle, and their cinnamon butter (as does my son!)
Will change your life. Their baked goods are so good - you will never look back! I order their breads (tumeric is my favorite) and slice it up and freeze it so I can easily defrost a few slices at a time. Their bagels are highly fermented and extra digestible. And last, their brownies I am legit addicted to. I always do a big order and freeze it all! The best part? 25% of the ingredients are local and Sarah who started it is the nicest.
I love chocolate and eat it basically every day. I do lots of baking for this very reason as it’s hard to find baked goods that aren’t either full of crap or taste like crap. Enter Hu Kitchen Chocolate. I use their chips for baking and keep their bars on hand for a sweet treat. I buy it in bulk so I save money and am always stocked :)
This granola is so good. It’s the perfect breakfast when you’re in the mood for something a little sweet. I love to pair it with homemade brazil nut milk and blueberries. It’s filling, won’t spike your blood sugar, and so delicious. Be sure to use XOAPP at checkout for a % off!
These tortillas are the best! I use them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can catch them being used in my current lunch obsession here as well as my veggie loaded enchiladas!
Dram Sparking Water is where it all started for me. Their flavors are light and delicious and most importantly aren’t full of crap ingredients. They check them for poor water quality and are small batch made in Colorado. I buy 2 cases at a time and always go for the variety pack.
We love making smash burgers at our house. They’re so delicious and when paired with homemade sweet potato fries it’s truly a home run dinner. Most ketchup found in stores is crap loaded with corn syrup - this one is not and tastes delicious! I enjoy many of primal kitchen’s products as they’re clean and trustworthy.
Avocado oil is amazing for cooking with. I love both the spray and pour bottle options. It’s safe to cook with at high temperatures and makes your food taste so good. Seed oils are very inflammatory and avocado oil is really a great neutral tasting oil alternative. Can’t recommend it enough!
Oats are a great way to bake gluten free and I love having them on hand in my kitchen. They can be full of glyphosate (weed killer) as they easily absorb it from soil. So, enter One Degree Organics which makes amazing oatmeal that is tested and sprouted giving it even better nutritional value.
Jovial makes delicious gluten and grain free pastas. I love having them on hand at home so I can easily whip up a meal. You can never go wrong withe some roasted/sauteed veggies, pasta and a good dollop of my favorite pesto. I buy their pastas in bulk so I never run out.
Simple Mills makes really great products. I love having their crackers around for a snack for my son and their baking mixes when I want to bake with little effort. Their ingredients are top notch and everything I’ve ever bought from them actually tastes good! Can’t recommend them enough.
I hope you enjoy this products as much as I do! We are so lucky to have incredible things out there now that are delicious and make us feel amazing. Keep referring to this as I look forward to sharing more of what I love in the future. If I’m missing something - comment below!
xx, Ashley