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5 Junk Foods Made Super Healthy

5 Junk Foods Made Super Healthy

The modern muscle building era is obsessed with a specific core group of foods believed to be necessary for building muscle. These foods are known as the bodybuilder's diet.

They include:
  • Chicken breasts
  • Tilapia
  • Tuna
  • Brown rice
  • Broccoli
  • Rolled oats or oatmeal
  • Sweet potato
  • Asparagus
  • Eggs
  • Almonds
I know there are other typical bodybuilder diet items but you get my point. Although these foods are great, and I eat many of these regularly, it's a common misconception that we must stick to these particular choices in order to attain an ideal physique.

Related: 10 Best Healthy Snacks Under 200 Calories

The truth is this: In terms of overall diet, the single most beneficial way to eat healthy and balanced, reach your fat loss goals, and enjoy food is by altering your favorite recipes to be more macronutrient friendly.

Here are some examples of ways you can make your favorite junk food items from home into a reasonably healthy manner that won't kill your diet. These are some of my favorite recipes to make. So let's get to it!

5 Healthy Junk Food Recipes

Jalapeno Peppers

Jalapeno Chicken Pizza

Macros per slice: 237 calories, 5g fat, 32g carbs, 15g protein.

Ingredients (Makes 1 whole pizza w/8 slices):
  • 1 thin pizza crust
  • 8 ounces of baked or grilled chicken breast
  • 1 cup of Trader Joe's Pizza Sauce
  • 4 servings (112g) of 2% milk shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 4 servings of jalapenos
This recipe is pretty self-explanatory. Simply spread the toppings on the pizza crust and place in the oven at around 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Bake until crispy brown, or until it reaches your desired level of crispness.

Making pizza at home with more macro-friendly ingredients is a great way to satisfy your cravings while still maintaining your diet. it's not delivery, it's better than Digornio.

Lean Mean Spicy Burgers

Macros per burger: 336 calories, 11g fat, 25g carbs, 33g protein.

Ingredients (Makes six 8 ounce burgers):
  • 3 pounds of 93/7 lean ground beef
  • ½ cup of chopped jalapenos
  • 6 strips of chopped turkey bacon
  • 3 servings of fat-free shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • Seasonings to taste
  • Oroweat Sandwich Thins
For this recipe simply add your ingredients to the lean ground beef. First, add ½ cup of chopped jalapenos and ¼ cup onion. Next, take your fat-free cheddar cheese and chopped turkey bacon strips and add these ingredients together along with desired seasonings.

Form all ingredients together into six individual patties. Grill patties to your desired liking and serve on an Oroweat Sandwich Thin.

Feel free to top with additional veggie toppings. Mixing together the cheese and bacon into the burger prior to cooking will give the burgers extra flavor and you won't even know you're eating healthy!

These are a great alternative; better than reaching for that Whopper or Big Mac.

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Macros for 2 sliders: 385 calories, 8g fat, 28g carbs, 53g protein.

Ingredients (Makes 8 sliders):
  • 2 pounds of chicken breast
  • 1 bottle of buffalo sauce
  • 2 servings of jalapenos (optional)
  • Spices to taste
  • 8 Arnold Select Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin Minis
  • 2 cups of spinach
In this particular recipe, I recommend cooking with a crockpot since it's so simple.

First, place 2 pounds of chicken breast in your crockpot along with an entire bottle of buffalo sauce. Next, add in jalapenos and whatever other seasonings your taste buds desire. Place the crockpot on a low temperature for 5 hours.

After the 5 hours is up, use two forks to shred apart the chicken in the crockpot (which by now should be tender enough to do so) until the chicken is completed shredded. Let cook in crockpot again on low for one more hour.

Serve on Mini Sandwich Thins and topped with lightly sautéed spinach. In a time crunch, crockpots are great ways of making quality food with little preparation and no sacrifice on taste.
Chicken Chili

Spicy Chicken Chili

Macros per bowl: 451 calories, 6g fat, 35g carbs, 64g carbs.

Ingredients:
  • 3 pounds chicken breast
  • 1 jar diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups of salsa of choice
  • 1 can black beans (drained)
  • ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • ½ cup jalapenos
  • Pinch of sriracha (optional)
  • Garlic powder (as desired)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Chili is always a hit and we are going to make it even better. Once again we will be using the crockpot in this particular recipe.

Simply place 3 pounds of chicken breasts (approximately 6 breasts) at the bottom of the crockpot. Add in one whole jar of diced tomatoes, 1 can of black beans, 2 cups of a salsa of your choice, ½ cup chopped green bell pepper, ½ cup of onion, and you are good to go.

For the crowd that enjoys spicier tastes such as myself, feel free to add in additional hot items such as jalapenos and sriracha. Finally, add in salt, pepper, and garlic powder based on personal preference.

Cook on a low temperature for 5 hours, at which point the chicken breast should be tender enough to shred apart with two forks. Once shredded, return to low heat temperature for one more hour.

While cooking, make sure to stir the ingredients every 1-2 hours. This recipe is great as it makes 6 large-sized bowls and is a quick and convenient way to get your proteins, carbs, and veggies all in one sitting. Not to mention the whole recipe only costs about $10 in total, making it only about $1.66 per bowl! What a deal for some great macros.

Parmesan Cheese

Bro Chicken Parmesan

Macros per serving: 394 calories, 10g fat, 16g carbs, 58g protein.

Ingredients:
  • 6 chicken breasts (approx. 3 pounds)
  • 1 egg white
  • 2 servings Italian bread crumbs (56g)
  • 6 servings low-fat mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 2 TSPs garlic powder
  • 2 servings pasta sauce
Chicken parmesan is a favorite choice at any local Italian restaurant. I mean, who doesn't love that cheesy, ooey gooey goodness? Well here's a way to make it at home in a more macro-friendly style. it's quick, easy, and cleanup is a breeze!

First, take one whole egg white and break apart into a bowl. Next, cut the chicken breasts in half so that they are longer narrower pieces (this will allow them to cook quicker).

In a separate bowl, mix together the Italian bread crumbs (more can be added if desired) along with 2 TSPs of garlic powder. Take each chicken breast piece and dip generously in egg white, then take the chicken breast and gently roll in in the Italian bread crumbs and garlic powder generously. Place in a Pam-sprayed glass dish and repeat this process for each of the breasts.

Next, take the pasta sauce and place a couple heaping spoonfuls on top of each breast. Cook at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, checking chicken occasionally.

Finally, take the chicken out of the oven and top with the low-fat mozzarella cheese and place back into the oven. Continue cooking until golden brown.

This is a great recipe to make at home while still feeling like you're out at a fancy restaurant. Not to mention it won't kill your diet!

Summary

Each of these recipes provides a great way to turn some of your favorite dishes into a healthier and more affordable option. They will satisfy your taste buds and prevent you from cheating on your diet.

Try them all out and tell me what you think. Make sure to tag me on Instagram when you make the recipes @ryanrodal! Hope you enjoy!
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