How to Make Your Favorite Junk Foods

Most of us ladies are guilty of craving junk food, even if we don’t like to admit it. And while we say we can live without it, we always end up craving junk food at some point or another.

I’m the first one to admit I love junk food. Even though I’m completely aware that it’s not good for me, I crave it and just can’t live without it some days.

While I believe it’s smart to live a healthy lifestyle, I also believe that life is made for enjoyment, and food is a part of that delicious life. Let’s be serious: if you deprive yourself of something, you’re only going to want it more and you’ll probably end up binging on it at some point.

So how do us ladies, who insist on indulgences, reach a happy medium that allows us to indulge in the naughty foods we love while still maintaining our healthy lifestyles?

Easy. We make our favorite junk foods ourselves!

Now, even though these recipes are healthier, they are still indulgences, meaning you probably shouldn’t eat them every day.

So with that being said, let’s indulge!

We All Scream For Ice Cream

Now maybe it’s just my girlfriends and I, but I don’t know one female who hasn’t craved a big scoop of creamy ice cream here and there. It’s a sweet little treat that just hits the spot.

However, if you eat it often enough it can definitely pack the pounds on.

So when I’m craving that irresistible cold, creamy treat, I whip this cheap and easy recipe together.

To start, make sure you have a large ziplock bag and a smaller ziplock bag.

Using the smaller bag, mix together 1/2 cup of milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and a half teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Once that is all mixed together, fill your large ziplock bag with crushed ice and around 6 tablespoons of coarse salt. If you can’t find rock salt, regular table salt will work.

Place your small sealed ziplock bag into the larger bag. Seal the large bag and shake it for around 10 minutes or until your milk mixture turns to ice cream.

Finally, take your ice cream out of your ziplock bag and dress it with your favorite chopped fruits, nuts or even some dark chocolate chips.

And there you have it! Your very own homemade ice cream that is not only a healthier version, but is also much cheaper than buying it from the store.

But what if your cravings are more of the salty variety? Don’t fret, I’ve got you covered.

Goodbye Potato Chips, Hello Kale Chips

Not one week goes by that I don’t crave chips. And while I would love to give in and snack every time I have a hankering for potato chips, lately I’ve been saving myself the calories and making my own kale chips!

You see, not only is kale extremely good for you, but it also crisps up in the oven just like potato chips. So you won’t even miss the crunch!

To get started making your kale chips, wash a bunch of organic kale (which you can find at any local grocer) and cut the stems off.  Then, cut the leaves into slices that are just a bit bigger than regular chip size.

Put your kale in a large container and add around 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, andsea salt and garlic powder to taste.

If you’re feeling other spices, don’t be afraid to add them in, creativity is key here.

While you’re mixing up your kale chips, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Shake your kale and spices together, and pour your mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

You’ll probably have more kale than your baking sheet can hold but don’t worry, it will shrink down drastically and will all fit on within a few minutes.

Put your kale in the oven and bake it for about 7 minutes. After that 7 minutes, take it out of the oven, shake it around and put it back in for another 5 minutes or so, making sure to keep your eye on it so the kale doesn’t burn.

Once you are satisfied with the crispiness, take them out of the oven.  Let them cool for about 2 minutes, and you will have a healthy alternative to unhealthy potato chips using a powerful superfood.

Sweet Potato Fries Are The New French Fries

I cannot describe how much I love french fries. I love their salty, fried goodness but what I don’t love is what they do to my waistline.

So how do I combat this hard-to-resist craving? With sweet potatoes and parchment paper, of course!

It’s really easy. Just get yourself a sweet potato, cut it into pieces about the size of french fries and add them to a big container. Just like you did with the kale chips, add a few tablespoons of oil, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to get your metabolism going, some sea salt and garlic powder to taste. Top it off with a few dashes of black pepper.

Preheat your oven to 425 and mix the sweet potato fries and spices together and then evenly space them out on your parchment paper so they bake evenly.

Let your fries cook for about 20 minutes on each side, taking them out only to flip them over, and in 35-40 minutes you will have healthy french fries that taste just as good but have a fraction of the fat and calories. Now that is my kind of fry.

So next time you’re suffering from cravings that are just too hard to ignore, give one of these recipes a try and save yourself some of those calories. Your waistline will thank you for it.

Vanessa is a lifestyle-blogging babe whose work can be found on various websites around cyberland including reviews on Wartamine, as well as other lifestyle brands. The biggest perk of her job? She gets to live her best life each and every day.