The Change Challenge: Sweet Swaps by Carina Sohaili

The time has come to take my change challenge! See if you can transform your taste buds with my SWEET and SIMPLE swaps…

Craving French Fries? Instead of classic French fries make Jicama French fries. Jicama is a root vegetable from the bean family in Mexico and a fantastic skin clearing healthy carbohydrate. Jicama is a great source of magnesium. Magnesium has a calming effect on the body, helps increase energy levels and is great for your skin. The mineral magnesium slows down the aging process, which will give your skin an overall smoother tone. Jicama also has plant protein, which will help stabilize your blood sugar levels and reduce cravings; you will find that you are full for a longer amount of time and have lasting energy. Classic French fries are loaded with simple sugars, which will make you hungrier twenty minutes later as well as make you crave more processed junk foods. That is why it is so hard to only have a couple of French fries. Peel the jicama, slice up and bake in the oven with a dash of cooking spray and spices of your choice for twenty minutes! That is it. Check out my simple video tutorial on how to make them here.

Craving Pasta? Make a squash pasta instead! Simply use a vegetable grater or spiralizer to create noodles from zucchini or yellow squash. Check out my simple video tutorial here. Why am I a huge fan of zucchini? Zucchini is loaded with vitamin C and vitamin A two of my favorite skin clearing vitamins. Vitamin A is great for removing dark circles and bags under your eyes. Vitamin C is fantastic for fine lines and wrinkles. Not to mention a great source of potassium. This energizing healthy carbohydrate will help curb unhealthy cravings and just make you glow. Top off the dish with my simple stress reducing avocado sauce. Take three tablespoons of avocado and mix with freshly squeezed lemon. Lemon is a great detox food due to the balancing effect it has on the body. Avocado is a great source of potassium (it has more potassium than a banana) and vitamin E. Vitamin E does wonders for fine lines and those pesky crows feet around your eyes. As you may already know, I am a huge fan of healthy fats, especially amazing avocado. For more of my simple Eat Yourself Gorgeous recipes with healthy fat try my zesty lemon mash or my avocado chocolate mint shake.

Craving Ice Cream? Go for a blended frozen banana with Stevia (an all natural sweetener that does not spike your blood sugar levels). Do not judge this swap before you try it. Bananas are one of my favorite de-bloating foods due to the potassium content. Potassium flushes the body of excessive toxins and waste. Bananas also are loaded with fiber, which will keep you more full for a longer amount of time and contain a variety of B-vitamins. B-vitamins are great for stress relief and energy levels. Not to mention, bananas help stimulate the production of serotonin (the feel good hormone in the brain). They also improve the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which is great for bone health. Check out my video tutorial on how to make this healthy soft serve ice cream alternative here. I have included techniques on how to create different flavors based on your mood.

More information about my Custom Programs can be found here

Need more tools? Check out my Simple Steps to Change

*A cause that is very dear to my heart is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I have formed a team in honor of my grandmother, Dr. Lailee Bakhtiar, who passed away after a 21 year battle with the disease. You can learn more about my team here.

Remember to focus on progress, not perfection…

& do YOU.

Love always,

Carina

Comments are closed.