8 Best Healthy Substitutes to Bread

Bread has been a staple in the human diet for thousands of years.

Bread is easy to make, inexpensive, and filling. As agriculture replaced hunting and gathering some 10,000 years ago, bread quickly became a permanent fixture.

After the Industrial Revolution, whole-grain, homemade breads were replaced by processed white breads stripped of natural nutrients. As a result, bread was quickly manufactured with cheap ingredients, making it a far cry from its nutrient-rich ancestor.

At this point in human history, most breads you buy at the grocery store include processed ingredients, GMO-based grain flours, dough conditioners, and other chemicals to improve shelf life.

While not all breads are considered unhealthy (see my list of healthy bread choices below), it’s probably wise to avoid the overly-processed breads that are on the shelves of most food stores.

In addition, breads made with processed white flours can cause a quick rise in blood sugar and may not be appropriate for people who have blood sugar issues.

Rather than layering all your sandwich ingredients on bread, simply toss them into a bowl and cover with a simple vinaigrette dressing. Ta-da, you’ve got yourself a “deconstructed” sandwich with all of your favorite flavors.

As a bonus, this gives you the space to add in more greens.

And, to be clear, this salad doesn’t actually have any bread in it. If you want to add in carbs, feel free to toss your salad with some cooked rice, other whole grains, or baked air fryer sweet potato cubes.

To make a toasted sweet potato slice, thinly slice a sweet potato lengthwise to about ⅓-½ inch thickness, and put in the toaster until pliable. Use in place of bread, buns, or toast.

Sweet potatoes are full of complex carbs and nutrients and make a great alternative to a slice of bread. Slice the sweet potato extra thin to reduce the carbs if you need to. Otherwise, enjoy your sweet potato toast exactly as you would regular bread.

This is one of my favorite healthy breakfast ideas for kids too! Just add their favorite toppings.

Using rice cakes in place of bread makes for a light lunch or a great snack. Simply layer with toppings like turkey slices and avocado, or peanut butter and apple slices.

Again, rice cakes aren’t necessarily low-carb, but they are almost always gluten-free and do have some nutritional benefits.

See my complete list of healthy gluten-free and dairy-free snacks.

Use lettuce wraps in place of tortillas, sandwich wraps, or even hamburger buns for added nutrition. See my recipe for Ground Chicken Lettuce Tacos.

Try to use romaine lettuce for the largest and thickest leaves. Romaine is also very neutral in flavor and has nutrition too (it’s on my list of the best green leafy veggies). The crunch is very satisfying and makes for a great low-carb bread substitute!

Butter lettuce is another great option, or you could also try collard greens.

Use rice paper as a bread substitute to wrap up sandwich goodies like turkey slices, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Rice paper does have carbs, but it’s usually less processed than most breads you’ll find in grocery stores. It’s naturally gluten-free which is perfect for people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Just be sure to read the label of the rice paper package to make sure there are no cross contaminations.

See my recipe for Healthy Summer Rolls.

Nori takes the place of bread as another wrap option while providing amazing nutrients and minerals.

Use for an Asian-inspired wrap including cooked rice (use cauliflower rice for low-carb diets, and julienned veggies like carrots). Add sliced avocado and a dash of tamari or coconut aminos for a terrific meal.

Egg wraps are the new Keto alternative to bread (also called cloud bread). They are essentially a very thin omelet that can be used instead of a grain-based tortilla. They add protein, healthy fats, and nutrients and can make a meal more satisfying.

Stuff with bell peppers, onions, and spinach for a bread-free breakfast burrito!

If you have an egg allergy or sensitivity, you can use chickpea flour (or any other gluten-free flour) as a good option.

There are many options for grain-free tortillas on the market now.

Use one or two as a sandwich wrap or to turn a grilled cheese into a quesadilla.

Many are made with almond flour, but you can also find grain-free tortillas made from cassava flour and other alternative flours as opposed to wheat flour. You can also try corn tortillas which are naturally gluten-free.

If you like to make fresh vegetable juices like I do, then you can actually make grain-free crackers using the pulp leftover from juicing. These yummy crackers are a great bread substitute as they are filling and a good source of fiber.

These homemade veggie juice crackers are filled with flavor and can be topped with anything you like, including cream cheese, tuna salad, or whatever you like!

Try these Carrot Crackers or my Green Juice Pulp Crackers.

Baking your own bread allows you to control the ingredients. You can skip the added sugars, preservatives, and bleached flour for more wholesome additions like nuts, seeds, and sprouted flour.

You’ll also save money by avoiding overpriced bakery breads or gluten free breads–and gain a sense of accomplishment from doing it yourself!

Don’t miss my gluten-free Buckwheat Bread recipe.

Fermenting bread dough, like in sourdough bread, makes it easier to digest and can increase the nutrients. Our ancestors have been fermenting bread for centuries as a method of preservation.

Choose a bakery-made sourdough bread or make your own.

Be sure to use gluten-free flours if you are on a gluten-free diet.