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Recipe Makeover

Do you have some favorite recipes that simply do not work with your new healthy lifestyle? Don't throw them out! Instead, modify your recipes with these tips.

Too Much Fat

Many homemade meals and treats call for cream, whole milk, butter, and high fat ingredients. You can easily reduce the amount of fat in your recipe by some simple substitutions.

Use fat-free / low-fat dairy (cheese, milk, etc.) instead of whole dairy products.
Use only half of the fat (butter, oil, etc.) included in the recipe. You can then replace the other half with pureed/mashed fruit (applesauce, mashed bananas, etc.)
Use a fat-replacement found in your local grocery store.

Sweet Tooth

We all like our treats to be sweet, but too much sugar is not good for our health.

Use half the amount of sugar suggested.
Replace removed sugar with other tasty spices, such as all-spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla extract.

Salty Sensations

Sometimes recipes call for salt for leavening reasons (recipes using yeast), yet others use it only for taste. If you are not using a recipe with yeast, here are some suggestions for decreasing the salt.

Leave out half, or all, of the salt called for by the recipe.
Use a salt replacement found at the grocery store.
Depending on the recipe, lime juice can work well as a salt substitute.

Think Healthy

Substitute ingredients for items with fewer calories and more nutrients. For example, use whole wheat flour and pasta when possible.
Leave out the little extras, such as frosting, nuts, granola, butter, mayonnaise, etc. Leaving out these items can save your calories, fat, and sugar.

Change your method

You can make a dish a lot healthier just by baking, grilling, broiling, and steaming instead of frying. Frying typically requires a considerable amount of fat, which also increases calories.
Instead of basting meats in fat, use fat free broth, wine, vinegar, or vegetable juice.

A little goes a long way

It is impossible to get all recipes down to the caloric and nutrient values of our dreams. This shouldn't mean you have to ban your favorite foods from your diet. Just remember a little goes a long way and select smaller portions. Choosing smaller portions will allow you to have your favorite foods without overdoing it.