Guide to Brands for Refined Carb Swaps

Written by:

Sheena Batura, MS, RDN, CSOWM, LD

Registered Dietitian

The first step to improving the quality of the carbs you eat is knowing what choices you can make instead. 

The following list is intended to help serve as a guide for simple brand swaps you can make to choose more complex carbs:

  • Wonder Bread, Mrs. Bairds ➡️Dave’s Killer Bread or Ezekiel Bread
  • Coca Cola, Pepsi, Sprite ➡️Herbal Tea, Seltzer Water, Homemade spa water
  • Lemonade, Sweet Tea, Sports Drinks, Fruit Juice  ➡️Unsweetened Iced Tea, Spa Water
  • Frappechino, Blended Coffee Drink ➡️Drip Coffee or Latte without sweetener added
  • Hostess, Little Debbies, Oreos ➡️Fresh fruit desserts, Naturally sweetened desserts
  • Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, Granola ➡️Rolled or Steel Cut Oats, Breakfast quinoa
  • French Fries, Tater Tots, Onion Rings ➡️Air fried sweet potato wedges, baked veggie pakoras
  • Pasta, White Rice ➡️Bean based pasta, Wild or Brown Rice
  • Potato chips, Ritz crackers, Cheez-its ➡️Roasted chickpeas, Nuts, Beanitos
  • Canned fruit in syrup ➡️Canned fruit in 100% juice
  • Sweetened applesauce ➡️Unsweetened applesauce
  • Sweetened dried fruit ➡️Unsweetened dried fruit (like mango)
  • Flavored yogurt like Yoplait ➡️Unsweetened Greek or Icelandic Yogurt

Written by:

Sheena Batura, MS, RDN, CSOWM, LD

Registered Dietitian