Easy, healthy food swaps

Carbohydrates and fibre

Good quality carbohydrates are a vital part of a balanced diet, providing one of the body’s main sources of energy. A simple switch from white to wholegrain is a great way to up your dietary fibre intake, plus keep you feeling full for longer.

Swap out

• White pasta
• White bread
• White rice
• Couscous
• Cereal (processed and packaged)

Swap in

• Buckwheat pasta or wholemeal pasta
• Wholegrain bread or sourdough
• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Oats

Why do you need fibre?

Eating high fibre foods may help lower the risk of heart disease, bowel cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity. It also helps keep you regular.

Protein

Protein is vital for muscle repair and cell growth. It's essential for growing kids and teenagers, and for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Swap out

• Salami and ham (processed meat)
• Battered fish
• Fried eggs
• Tinned kidney beans and chickpeas

Swap in

• Chicken or turkey (lean meat)
• Grilled fish
• Boiled eggs
• Dried kidney beans or chickpeas (soaked)

Cooking tip

Baked or boiled proteins are much better for you than fried. Using the oven or grill, rather than the fry pan, requires less added fat and helps the food retain its nutrients.

Fats

Fat often gets a bad rap, but it’s essential to our wellbeing – the trick is focusing on the right kind of fats. Healthy fats help our bodies absorb nutrients, produce hormones, maintain cells and stay energised. On the flipside, saturated fats and trans fats can lead to weight gain, heart disease and high cholesterol.

Swap out

• Processed foods like pastries
• Butter
• Sour cream

Swap in

• Raw, unsalted nuts
• Avocado or olive oil
• Greek yogurt
• Ricotta or cottage cheese
• Tahini

Super easy, super delicious swaps

Potato chips for kale chips

Homemade kale chips are way better for you than packet chips, and some say they even taste better. Grab a baking tray, throw on some torn kale leaves, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt (and spices if you like) and put in the oven for about 10 minutes or until crisp. Trust us, you’ll never look back.

Tortilla wraps for lettuce leaves

Fresh, crispy lettuce leaves couple perfectly with hot-steamy bean sauce. Lettuce wraps are a great way to sneak in some greens while enjoying a little extra crunch. Think of it as a Mexican san choy bau.

Salad croutons for nuts

There’s nothing like a bit of texture to jazz up a salad. To get your healthy fats (and lose the saturated ones) try roasted almonds or pecans in place of croutons.

Packet pasta for zucchini ribbons

Thin zucchini ribbons are a great change from regular packet pastas. Not only do you get your greens-hit, but you can even skip the cooking and eat them raw. We recommend getting a spiraliser to make them – you can buy one cheaply, and it’s so easy to use.

Soft drink for fruit-infused water

Still or sparkling water loaded up with fresh mint and strawberries gets our vote over soft drink any day. Make up your own fruity combinations and store in the fridge for those sweltering hot days.