Most of us know that eating healthy food can help us look better, feel better, and even lessen our impact on the environment. On the other hand, none of us want to waste money trying out new foods that we might not like. So, as we look to replace our typical food choices with something healthier, how do we know where to start?
To find out what food swaps Americans actually like, LaserAway conducted a survey on popular healthy food substitutions. In this article, we will break down the main takeaways so you know which alternatives to try and which ones you might want to leave on the store shelves for now.
Buyer Beware: Food Americans Have Tried and Don’t Like
The last few years have seen an increasing proliferation of clean food swaps: cauliflower pizza crusts, oat-milk cappuccinos, and baked kale chips. When it comes to taste, however, not all substitutes make the grade. Of the five top alternatives that Americans have tried multiple times and still don’t like, three out of five are replacements for animal products.
Taking first place on the list of unpopular swaps is tofu, second is plant-based meat, and fourth is plant-based milk. Although tofu can be added to a variety of dishes in place of meat or dairy, some Americans struggle with its texture and bland flavor. Similarly, plant-based meat has trended in recent years (even at fast food chains), but it’s clearly something that many people still just don’t like.
Greek yogurt and cauliflower rice round out the top five food replacements that people have tried and still don’t like, coming in at number three and number five on the list. Interestingly, two food swaps—Greek yogurt and plant-based milk—made both the list of substitutions people have tried and didn’t like and the list of the most surprisingly delicious food substitutes. Perhaps lots of people are trying these options but either loving them or hating them.
Healthy Food Substitutions Americans Actually Like
Despite not liking some of the healthy alternatives, people keep trying to improve their diet. In fact, an impressive 69% of Americans opt to eat healthier substitutes instead of their regular food selections. Just over half of those choosing healthy swaps are influenced by concerns about weight management.
Topping the list of protein alternatives that people actually like are chicken, turkey, and black beans. In terms of carb swaps, people report enjoying whole-grain bread, alternative chips (beans, kale, etc.), and cauliflower rice.
When it comes to dairy/condiment substitutes, people select plant-based milk, Greek yogurt, and avocado/coconut oils above other choices. The sheer number and variety of Greek yogurt and plant milk options at coffee shops and grocery stores suggest that plenty of Americans are purchasing those products.
Americans’ Favorite Vegan Food Swaps
A large majority of the most popular healthy swaps were vegan foods, indicating that plant-based eating is surging in popularity. America’s choices for the most delicious vegan substitutions are plant-based milk, baked vegetable fries, and plant-based meat. Since meat and dairy alternatives also made the list of the most unliked swaps, we can assume that many people who disliked the plant-based options were not vegans.
What are the trendiest vegan options these days? The top three vegan items that Americans added to their diet last year were plant-based milk, black beans, avocado, and coconut oil. Overall, the most popular vegan food substitutions are plant-based milk, black beans, avocado and coconut oil, alternative chips, and cauliflower rice.
Fortunately, the sacrifice often seems to be worth the effort. Over half of Americans (56%) noticed health benefits after incorporating healthy food substitutes into their diet.
The Bottom Line
People are motivated to change their diets for any number of reasons: health, appearance, budget, environmental impact, and personal preferences. Unless you have specific dietary restrictions, healthy eating (and living!) is usually all about balance. You don’t have to change your diet all at once, but you may find trying a few new alternatives a fun and creative way to improve your eating habits.
This Power Couple is Helping You Go Vegan(Opens in a new browser tab)
Methodology:
LaserAway surveyed over 1,000 Americans from 18 to 76 years old about the healthy food alternatives they eat.
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