healthy alternatives to pantry staples we all loved as a kid

I still crave the delicious meals I would eat as a kid but most of them were horrible for me! As a kid, we can get away with eating this way but it catches up to us as we get older.  I've put together a guide of healthier alternatives to pantry staples we all loved as children and I think you'll be adding these to your cart. 

boxed pasta 

rather than going for traditional white pasta, try Banza pasta instead. It's actually made from garbanzo beans so it packs in quite a bit of protein and less of a blood sugar swing! 

white flour

I stay away from flour as it's loaded with not-so-good-for-you ingredients. Instead, I go for plant-based flours like almond or coconut. With fewer ingredients, these baking necessities pack in healthy fats for stable blood sugar. 

peanut butter

Did you know that peanuts can cause extreme inflammation in some people? As yummy as it is, I try to stick with almond or walnut butter as they are less likely to cause inflammation. In addition, most peanut butter is actually "peanut spread". This means there are plenty of added ingredients like cottonseed oil, sugar, and other fillers that take away it being a one-ingredient food. 

potato chips

Who can eat one potato chip? Nobody. Rather than giving my body greasy white potato chips, I chop up sweet potatoes finely, add some sea salt and stick them in the oven for a crisp, healthy alternative to potato chips! 

cereal

Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, Fruity Pebbles, you name it and I can guarantee I loved it. I still crave cereal sometimes so I try to find healthier choices like this cereal alternative with healthy fats, moderate protein, and a delicious blueberry flavor. 

What food did you love as a kid that you're missing? Try out one of me recommendations above and let me know what you think on Instagram @nellamoon.