Comfort foods may taste great but they very rarely have very many nutrients in them. Instead, they’re usually high in fats, salt or sugar, or any combination of them. When you’re craving comfort food, it can be detrimental to your weight loss progress and your nutrition if you give in on more than a rare occasion.

That said, continually depriving yourself of the types of food you’d like to enjoy isn’t a good idea, either. It’s a far better idea to find alternatives to those foods than to try to let yourself feel as though you can never enjoy the foods you truly want.

Consider some of the following alternatives to your favorite comfort foods the next time you have a craving:

• Potato chips – The taste of chips is fantastic, but this comfort food is primarily a matter of something tasty and crunchy. Bake some thinly cut sweet potato slices or kale leaves with a very light coating of olive oil for a delicious, super crunchy alternative. This works with many root veggies such as carrots, parsnips and even beets.

• Candy – When you’re craving the ultra sweet flavor of candy, there is a very surprising alternative that you will be shocked to discover. Frozen grapes offer a sweet taste that is completely different from their flavor at room temperature. Buy large numbers of them when they’re on sale because you can keep them in the freezer for weeks.

• Pizza – Pizza bites are a fantastic snack except for all the fat, sugar and white flour they contain. That said, there are a ton of alternatives you can create and that taste wonderful while they also slip in lots of nutrition and fiber, too. Instead of using pizza dough, try using eggplant circles, Portobello mushroom caps, and even zucchini. Brush a bit of sauce on top as well as skim mozzarella cheese, then bake until it’s ready.

• Ice cream – Looking for a super creamy, sweet treat? Blend some frozen bananas with your favorite frozen berries and you’ll enjoy an extraordinary treat. If you want something a little less fruity, add some pure cocoa powder for a rich and chocolaty dessert.

• Pudding – The next time you’re inclined to reach for a pudding cup, consider a recipe using chia seeds soaked overnight in almond milk, instead. Add a bit of pure vanilla extract and maple syrup. If you’d like even more antioxidants, add a few blueberries, too.