Just because you have a craving for something sour doesn’t mean you have to reach for the candy drawer! The hardest part of sticking to a healthy diet is learning how to best handle your cravings. These 5 foods really hit the spot without derailing your nutritional goals:
1. Sliced apples soaked in lemon juice. You can opt for a good old-fashioned green apple and it will be sour, but any apple soaked in lemon juice will pucker your mouth! A green apple soaked in lemon juice will be the most sour option. The best part is that this snack can last all day. Lemon juice naturally preserves fruit. If you slice your apples in the morning and coat them with the juice they will stay fresh and crisp all day. Lemon juice can be purchased in the fruit juice aisle.
2. Frozen cranberries. I buy cranberries in bulk just after the holidays. After Thanksgiving 2011, I got 1 lb for 59 cents! I don’t buy them frozen, I buy them ‘fresh’ (or as close to fresh as they can be from the grocery store) in bags. I freeze them immediately, just as I purchased them or put into storage bags. If you get a sour craving go to the freezer and grab a handful, pop them in your mouth like candy! They will combine cold, sweet, and bitter flavors.
3. Greek yogurt. I am a big fan of Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt already has more of a tangy taste than regular yogurt; when you pair this with a sour fruit it packs a punch. Some yogurt comes with fruit while others are plain. Lemon and raspberry are popular flavors that offer varying degrees of tartness. If you can only find plain yogurt, add your own fruit or stir in a drink-flavoring packet (such as lemonade mix).
4. Frozen cherries and limes as a slushy. Who doesn’t love a slushy? You can purchase cherry limeade drink mix, but read the label. There may be extra sugar lurking in the pre-made stuff. Try freezing cherries and a few lime slices (or just cherries in lime juice), throw it all in a blender and ta-da! Lime juice can be found down the fruit juice aisle or with the real limes.
5. Raspberry Vinaigrette salad. The amount of salad dressings available today is astounding. If you like salad I suggest you try many different options. For the salad lover with a sour craving, a dressing like Raspberry Vinaigrette may do the trick! It combines the natural tartness of vinegar with the sweetly sour flavor of raspberries. Don’t load up your salad with too many other toppings though, it could overwhelm this light dressing.
The next time you have a sour craving try one of these delicious alternatives to candy! There is something for everyone in this listing of nutritional taste-bud ticklers.
