I don’t know about you but I don’t feel like I’ve really eaten till I have some yummy carbs in me. Sandwiches, rice, pasta - do you really feel full and happy without them? And whereas I’m sure most of us would like to survive solely on these but at some point you have to stop and wonder what you’re doing to your body. When you find yourself at this difficult stage, try to substitute some your favourites with these healthier alternatives (don’t completely replace them though). You might just end up developing a taste for them - Miracles happen.

Zoodles

This is essentially just peeled/grated zucchini. You can have it raw (like a cucumber), lightly saute it or microwave it for a minute. Pair it with some greens and protein and you have yourself a tasty, healthy lunch which didn’t take hours to make.

Cauliflower RiceTake your cauliflower and chop it into large chunks and then grate it. Like the zucchini, you can eat this raw or saute it with a spoonful of oil. Do cover it though so it gets steamed. Enjoy it as you would, regular rice. It actually lends an interesting flavour to most dishes.

Jackfruit Flour Chapatis

There are a lot of alternatives to flour in the market now but jackfruit flour is definitely the most interesting. It takes some time to get the texture right with this though so maybe mix it with a little wholewheat flour.

Carrot PastaSlice your carrots into ribbons so that it takes on the appearance of tagliatelle. Saute it with mushroom, bell peppers and any other veggies and meats you like to end up with a bright, delicious dish, low in calories and carbohydrates. This is a good way to fool your children into eating their veggies too!

Millet Pancakes

Or millet anything, really. This grain isn’t used nearly enough as it should be. You can get millet flour from the grocery store and replace the wheat flour in your pancake recipe. Everything else remains the same. You can also try your hand at savoury pancakes if you’re looking for a light main course.