Kick Junk Food to the Curb with These Easy Snacks

January 13, 2015 28 Comments

I have been trying for a long time to get people to cut back on junk food. My latest effort includes going on TV.

I am proud of my latest television appearance because I didn’t throw up before or after the segment. Hurray!

Do watch it here and let me know what you think. You have to put up with a short advertisement.

The concept here is simple: replace junk food with a healthy, lower calorie snack that hits the same flavor type so you still feel satisfied.

My substitutions are:

Cookie - apples and peanut butter
Candy Bar - KIND bar
Doritos - spicy Monterey jack cheese and crackers
Potato Chips - roasted chickpeas (recipe below)

The cookie I feature in the segment is 650 calories! An apple and peanut butter is about 150 and filled with fiber, protein, and micronutrients your body needs. Just think of how much better you will feel after you eat the apple and peanut butter.

On average for these junk food replacements, you will save about 300 calories and ADD a bunch of nutrition to your day.

My book includes the roasted chickpea recipe along with other good ideas for easy, healthy snacks.

I am sure many of you have junk food addictions that you are looking to replace. Please share your issue and I will think about solutions.

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas Recipe

1.6 from 24 reviews

(4 servings)

Print Pin

Ingredients

1-15.5 ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt to taste

Instructions

Heat oven to 450 F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Drain chickpeas, rinse, and put them in a bowl. Mix oil, salt, and pepper with chickpeas and spread them on baking sheet.

Put them in the oven. After 15 minutes shake the pan to ensure that the chickpeas brown evenly. Roast another 15 minutes until brown and crunchy. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

One serving is 161 calories, 4.7 g fat, 25.0 g carbohydrates, 0 g sugar, 5.5 g protein, 4.9 g fiber, 329 mg sodium, 4 Points+

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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28 Comments:

Hi Lisa...you did a terrific job! My buddy owns KIND Bars so will send over to him...I'm a Producer and wish my actors were as seamless as you...GREAT job Lisa!!

A. T.

you did an awesome job. I'm going to try the chickpeas - they looked delicious

Janice Miller

Awesome job, Lisa! I love your book, and the chickpeas recipe is one of our favorites. I wish you all the best with your book sales, and Happy 2015!

Becky

Hi Lisa, watched your TV appearance. Well done! I have your book, get your newsletter, love it all. Thanks a bunch for all your tips. You are a sweetheart had to tell you. Take care and keep up the good work.

Nancy

You nailed it!!!! Great job!

Cathy

You were awesome! Great tips for healthy snacking - thx!

Sandra

You did a wonderful job. I would have thrown up before, after and probably even during! Way to go!

Kris

Aw! Proud of you!

Nancy

You did a FANTASTIC job! It was great hearing your voice! You were poised, knowledgeable and your ideas were SUPERB! Great job!

caren gittleman

You looked fantastic and your book is great! Apple & peanut butter saves me daily....love it. I like that you give points values as I'm an ex (old time) WW member, best food program for me but too much focus on WW profit. I do miss the accountability but am giving it a go on my own. Thanks for your help.

Janet

This recipe is on the Weight Watcher website. Tried them many times and they are really good.

Janice

Hi Lisa,
My biggest problem with junk food is sweets. I love sugar. I've stopped drinking coke (I never thought that would happen), but having two or three sweet snacks throughout the day I can't quit. What do you suggest for healthy sweets?

Katrina

WOW! Very professional. Not everyone can go from print that seamlessly.

Valerie

I too, am a sugar addict...with a lot of health issues. I am overweight, I have had Breast Cancer twice, and I have read that cancer loves sugar -- so I really need to change my ways! I start the day with a sweetroll and heavily sugared coffee. I love cookies, ice cream, pie, chocolate anything -- you name it. I can't eat spicy or greasy foods, due to acid reflux, and I drink a lot of fat-free, Lactaid milk to settle my stomach when I take medications. ( I am 62 and have severe osteo arthritis/scoliosis and other issues). I used to be a dancer (Ballet, Yoga, Bellydance) all of which helped to keep me in decent shape, but I can't afford classes right now, so I joined the YMCA and plan to start doing a lot of swimming as soon as we finish moving from our big house into an apartment. We have a lot of stress in our lives right now so there's a lot of munchin' goin' on.... need some suggestions for healthy replacements for all those sweets. (I have very few upper teeth left (again, probably due in part to my love of sweets...) and they are in bad shape so crunchy things are hard to handle right now, I will probably be forced to get an upper plate in a year or two). What suggestions do you have ? Thank you!

Jan Weems

You were absolutely WONDERFUL ! I can't wait to try everything you shoed us. AND' you are so small !

Kathleen

What a great interview, Lisa! You are so natural and self-possessed. Good for you. It is really nice to see you in action, since I've only seen your photo.

Diane

Great job, Lisa! You looked and sounded terrific! :-)

Karen

Great job! You are rocking the PR! Redbook next month!!! That is big time!

Maria

I thought you did just Great Lisa! Loved all the great ideas. I read your emails every time. Which is not the case for 90% of what I get. Wish you All the Best in 2015. And thanks for helping me in my weightloss journey. :)

Darlene

I love Doritos so I will try the chickpeas! Good going on the show too! I am on WW so this will be a good/healthy snack. :)

Julie

I will have to try these! I'm not a big snacker but really desire a nice crunchy compliment to a meal. These would do the trick.

Ellen

You did AWESOME! You seemed at ease, no nerves at all. The snack "trade-in's" you showed were great. The apple & peanut butter combo is one of my most favorite go to, need a quick & instant snack.

Jessica

Awesomesauce!!

LindaSonia

Very cool!! :-)

Helene

Well done! You were great. :)

Melissa

My snack addiction is crackers. Help!

Lauren

Katrina -- I, too, have a sweet tooth problem. When I am making good choices, my go to sweet snack are Medjool dates (worth seeking out), pit removed, and raw walnuts stuffed in and squeezed closed. It's a wonderful sweet treat; tastes like something from a box of Russel Stover chocolates! Two of them are quite a treat.

Marlene

Love it - well done Lisa - great to see your wisdom being promoted to the masses!
Dx

Dielle