It’s National Donut Day!

It’s true that donuts are synonymous with unhealthy, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip out on celebrating completely. Donuts are one of the only foods that still contain trans-fat, after it has been pushed out of the market for several years now. Most deep-fried foods are still cooked in a trans-fat oil, which means that they play a role in inflammation and increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

So, we put together a list of “smart” alternatives to those sugary, carb-loaded treats to try instead in celebration of National Donut Day! 

Homeade Muffins

There are so many ways to make healthy muffins and they can be just as satisfying as a fat laden donut. Whole wheat flour, fresh or frozen fruit, nuts and seeds, yogurt or applesauce and even carrots and zucchini are few healthy ingredients you can add to make muffins both healthy, delicious and satisfying.

Donut Holes

If you find that your donut cravings are just too much to bear, then go ahead and indulge. Sometimes not allowing yourself unhealthy treats once in awhile can cause a cycle of deprivation and bingeing, which is never good. To make your indulgence a bit less harmful, try a couple of donut holes instead of a whole donut. Usually it only takes a few bites of a treat to fulfill a craving!

Baked Donuts

The top reason donuts are unhealthy is because of the trans-fat oil they are fried in. While baked doughnuts still aren’t something you should eat every day, they’re far healthier. Choose a recipe that uses whole-grain flour and minimal amounts of butter, oil or fat to keep it healthy. If you need to add sweetness, use a light coating of sugar or drizzle of honey.

Fruit 

Believe it or not, fruit is a great way to fulfill a sweet craving. You may not believe it when you are craving candy, cookies or aforementioned donut, but eating a piece of fruit can really fulfill sweet cravings! Try some fruit and wait a little bit, you will likely notice that the craving has subsided. As a bonus, your blood sugar will not be crashing about 20 minutes later as it would with a real donut or sugary treat.

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