Try these tips to give your current recipes a healthy makeover!
Baked goods and desserts
Use light soft margarine or light butter instead of regular margarine, shortening or butter.
Instead of oil, try one-half applesauce/one-half nonfat milk, or one-half oil and one-half applesauce. If possible, replace oil completely with applesauce (this works best in cakes, brownies and zucchini bread).
Use a graham cracker crust instead of a traditional pie crust - traditional crusts are usually made from lard or shortening, with more than 50% of calories from fat.
Reduce nuts and coconut by 50% and chocolate chips by 25-50%.
Reduce sugar by 25% - it won't change the taste appreciably, especially if you use more of the sweet spices(vanilla, cinnamon, etc.)
Replace half of the white flour with whole-wheat flour to increase fiber and nutritional value.
Casseroles and main dishes
Use nonfat plain yogurt instead of sour cream.
Use two egg whites in place of every whole egg - this will eliminate cholesterol and save fat calories. For baked goods and quiches, beat egg whites until stiff to add volume.
Use evaporated skim milk instead of cream, and use nonfat or low-fat milk instead of whole milk.
Instead of cream cheese, substitute one of the following: light cream cheese; blenderized cottage cheese combined with 1 tablespoon lemon juice; one-half tofu and one-half ricotta cheese.
Saute in wine, chicken broth or vegetable oil spray instead of oil.
Use reduced-fat (50% less fat) cheese instead of regular cheese.
