Eating carbohydrates isn't a bad thing; But what can be harmful to our health, (and our waistline), is processed carbs. A more moderate and healthy approach is to be selective about what kind you eat. Completely cutting out carbs can backfire, causing cravings, insulin imbalance, and fatigue. A better way is to include whole grains, vegetables and fruit — for nutrition and satisfaction.

Here are some of my top tips for switching over to good-for-you carbohydrates:

BAKE WITH ALTERNATIVE FLOURS

Instead of white or whole wheat flour, (still just as processed); Try oat flour, almond flour, or coconut flour when baking. Oat flour is made from whole grain oats, and can be made at home by grinding oats into a flour in your blender. Almond and coconut flour can be bought online or in stores, and buying in bulk can save money. Here are some options to try:

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies made with Oat Flour

Grain Free Banana Bread made with Almond Flour

SWAP PASTA FOR VEGGIES

You don’t have to give up comfort food pasta dishes. Instead, switch the base to veggie swap-outs. Try spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice. Here are some options to try:

Chicken Parmesan Zoodles made with Zucchini Noodles

Spaghetti Squash Mac & Cheese made with Spaghetti Squash Noodles

Chicken Broccoli and Cheese Casserole made with Cauliflower Rice

TRADE CEREAL FOR OATMEAL

Oatmeal, or old fashioned oats, is low on the glycemic index, meaning it won’t spike blood sugar levels and cause an energy slump. Oats also contain a variety of B vitamins, fiber and protein, which provides longer lasting satisfaction in the morning. If a bowl of oatmeal isn't appealing, baked goods using oat flour is another delicious breakfast option! Here are some options to try:

Brownie Batter Overnight Oats made with Old Fashioned Oats

Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffins made with Oats

WRAP IT UP WITH LETTUCE

Try your favorite burger or sandwich in a lettuce wrap, rather than in a bun. Simply buy a head of lettuce, and instead of using bread, wrap up your favorite meats, veggies, and cheese in a few lettuce leaves. If you are eating out, there is almost always an option to swap the bun with lettuce; (Hey, maybe that is the one good thing that came with the low carb craze). Here are some options to try:

Chicken Caesar Lettuce Wraps

Clean Eating In-N-Out Burgers

SNACK WISELY

As far as snacks are concerned, most of the processed carbohydrates can be found in "the little things" we mindlessly eat throughout our day. When snacking, I try to make sure they contain a good amount of protein, with a portion of carbohydrate and healthy fat. I enjoy Dashing Dish Snacks the most because I know what is in them, and that they contain a good balance of macronutrients. When I do snack on something packaged, I choose things like chickpea puffs, air-popped popcorn, Parmesan crisps, Simple Mills crackers, or fruit with nut butter. Here are some options to try:

Any of the Dashing Dish Snacks

Although carbohydrates can get a bad wrap, they have numerous health benefits. The right kind of carbohydrates will give you energy, and help your body function well. I hope this article shed light on the topic, and provided you with some good options to incorporate in your lifestyle!