Diet

Healthy Swaps for the Junk Food We Have a Kung-Fu Grip on

Satisfy those cravings and save on calories with these junk food substitutes

by Erica Smith | 6 COMMENTS

PHOTO 0/7

Cheetos Let's face it: If you don't find Cheetos addictive, you've got superhuman powers. Instead of shamefully licking off the bright orange faux cheese from your fingertips after hitting the vending machine, pop a bag of popcorn into the microwave and simply skip the butter. You'll get the same light, airy feeling with a subtle crunch. Bonus: No neon-colored evidence to remind you of your indulgence.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Chips and Dip

EDITORS' BEST OF

12 Best Acne Products for Your Clearest Skin Yet

11 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Easy, On-the-Go Coverage

It's common knowledge that the more delicious a snack is, the more terrible it is for you. Case in point: junk food. We all know it's bad news. Heck, the name itself implies that there's unnecessary stuff hanging around. And in this case, that unnecessary stuff is extra fat, sugar, salt and calories.

So, even though I start my day with a hearty bowl of oatmeal, guzzle water throughout the day and get my five servings of fruit and veggies in, I'm no match against a chewy chocolate chip cookie that's waiting for me in the break room. It's fast, convenient, and how much can just one little cookie hurt, right? Unfortunately, the answer is "a lot" if this same rationalization is happening every day of the week, for whatever your weakness may be -- potato chips, Cheetos, a generous slice of cheesecake ... pick your poison.

As tragic as it may sound, I'm afraid it's time to loosen that kung-fu grip on your favorite junk food.

Take a deep breath. This doesn't mean you have to completely deprive yourself of sweet, salty, crunchy goodness and chomp on celery 24/7. It's merely time to give your diet saboteurs a little makeover.

To help you get started, we rounded up healthier snacks that can easily be swapped for the junk food you can't quite seem to kick. By all means, feel free to indulge in a Snicker's bar once in a while -- but in the meantime, reach for these smart swaps to keep your junk food cravings in check.