substitutes for what we used to eat

maryjay52
maryjay52 Posts: 557 Member
I am from Buffalo NY , home of the chicken wings .. there is plenty of them here every where you go. Being raised on chicken wings , I realize it has contributed to my overweight status. However, now that I do not eat them any longer, I still like the flavor of wing sauce and bleu cheese dressing . I crave it sometimes so I decided to make a substitute .. I just use frank's hot sauce instead of mixing it with butter. My bleu cheese dip is a light blue cheese dressing and I add bleu cheese crumbles to thicken it up a bit.. I use boneless skinless chicken breast that I bake and then cube it up. mmm good .. its way healthier and I get to address my cravings.

What foods have you been able to alter your recipe to not feel so slighted?
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Replies

  • clairejoknee
    clairejoknee Posts: 15 Member
    Chips, or fries as you would say in America. Peel a potato you might call a jacket potato, cut it into chips, par boil, drain, put on a baking tray cover in one calorie spray, bake in the oven, chips without frying :-)
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  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    No substitutes. I eat the same as before. Just less.

    ^This is me as well.

    If I didn't intend on giving it up forever, I make it fit into my day.
  • janine2355
    janine2355 Posts: 628 Member
    I am from Buffalo NY , home of the chicken wings .. there is plenty of them here every where you go. Being raised on chicken wings , I realize it has contributed to my overweight status. However, now that I do not eat them any longer, I still like the flavor of wing sauce and bleu cheese dressing . I crave it sometimes so I decided to make a substitute .. I just use frank's hot sauce instead of mixing it with butter. My bleu cheese dip is a light blue cheese dressing and I add bleu cheese crumbles to thicken it up a bit.. I use boneless skinless chicken breast that I bake and then cube it up. mmm good .. its way healthier and I get to address my cravings.

    What foods have you been able to alter your recipe to not feel so slighted?
    my response is below
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    No substitutes. I eat the same as before. Just less.

    +1
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I will be following this thread!

    There are unfortunately a lot of things I haven't been able to substitute. I've made baked French fries and they were ok, but it's still not the same thing and not as satisfactory. Cheesecake, same thing, the 'light' versions don't measure up. I make fantastic protein pancakes but it still doesn't compare to those buttermilk pancakes I made a few weeks ago... all the 'healthier' desserts I've made have turned out disappointing (except that 'skinny jelly roll up' that turned out to be 400 delicious calories, instead of the 100 they advertised).

    The only 'light' thing really that has totally satisfied my cravings were jello sugar free temptations (for chocolate mousse cravings), and random savory foods that I can make pretty well without adding a ton of butter or oil - fried rice, crepes, meatloaf, Mexican food etc. Breyer's ice cream is a good pick for ice cream too, but still not low calorie.

    Sometimes there just isn't a substitute for the real thing.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    No substitutes. I eat the same as before. Just less.

    ^This is me as well.

    If I didn't intend on giving it up forever, I make it fit into my day.

    Pretty much, though I did cut a few things out, due to being diabetic and hypertensive. No more ramen noodles for me.
  • janine2355
    janine2355 Posts: 628 Member
    That sounds so delicous. I love that idea, since I myself, love buffalo wings. Saturday mornings, I like a bacon egg and toast breakfast. Well, now that I am getting back down to my goal weight, I figured out a way I could still have this on Saturdays, but cut a lot of the calories. I use one whole egg, along with one egg white. Sometimes, I just have 2 egg whites. Also, when I fry the egg, I make sure I always use a cooking spray like PAM. For the bacon, I have switched to turkey sausage, which i sooooo low in calories or you can use turkey bacon. The toast, I either skip, or I have "light, 100% whole wheat toast". It taste very good, And I don't feel at all like I'm dieting.
  • Aedrah
    Aedrah Posts: 100 Member
    For the wings - look for baked chicken wing recipes and experiment. My husband makes a mean baked chicken wing. I actually prefer them more than the deep fried wings.
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
    I am from Buffalo NY , home of the chicken wings .. there is plenty of them here every where you go. Being raised on chicken wings , I realize it has contributed to my overweight status. However, now that I do not eat them any longer, I still like the flavor of wing sauce and bleu cheese dressing . I crave it sometimes so I decided to make a substitute .. I just use frank's hot sauce instead of mixing it with butter. My bleu cheese dip is a light blue cheese dressing and I add bleu cheese crumbles to thicken it up a bit.. I use boneless skinless chicken breast that I bake and then cube it up. mmm good .. its way healthier and I get to address my cravings.

    What foods have you been able to alter your recipe to not feel so slighted?

    I don't do substitutes....at.all. My downfall used to be rice, pasta and good bread; unfortunately too much of it. I now eat pasta and rice once a month and bread even less ( I just eat normal amounts of carbs from more complex sources like vegetables and fruit). I have cut down on frequency as well as portion size and am ok with it. Since I live in Mexico my " daily bread " are corn tortillas.
    I used to and still love vegetables with cheese sauce ( more than ice cream, pizza and similar foods ) and now just put a thin slice of cheese on top of the veggies and let it melt. I save the calories from the butter, milk and flour from the sauce. Usually substitutes are not worth the calories for me , because nothing tastes like the original. I still make cheese sauce on occasion as a treat that fits into my daily calories. The same is true for other foods. Yesterday I made guacamole; had 9 spoonfuls with three tostadas as my main meal and stayed well within my calories. Actually I did 5:2 on that.....:o). My personal opinions is that there is really no reason to substitute unless a person really wants to overeat.
  • Amandawith3kids
    Amandawith3kids Posts: 367 Member
    i re-did my mom's ziti recipie. other than that, i havent changed much.
  • jlynnm70
    jlynnm70 Posts: 460 Member
    I bake more things rather than fry them

    I still make sweets but use applesauce in place of the oil (or a portion of the oil) - no one in the family notices and we still get brownies, homemade waffles (add cinnamon and call them apple cinnamon waffles), and cupcakes.

    I made my own spreadable butter - 1/2 real butter 1/2 olive oil. Blend and keep in tupperware in fridge (still the creamy flavor but get the healthy olive oil.

    I made my own homemade syrup for my coffee - boil brown sugar and water at a 1 to 1 ratio - keep in bottle in fridge - (25 calories per TBS vs. 40 for the Torini Syrup) and I like it better.
  • maryjay52
    maryjay52 Posts: 557 Member
    Chips, or fries as you would say in America. Peel a potato you might call a jacket potato, cut it into chips, par boil, drain, put on a baking tray cover in one calorie spray, bake in the oven, chips without frying :-)

    i like that idea!!!!
  • maryjay52
    maryjay52 Posts: 557 Member
    For the wings - look for baked chicken wing recipes and experiment. My husband makes a mean baked chicken wing. I actually prefer them more than the deep fried wings.

    share it with us!! my brother grills chicken wings
  • maryjay52
    maryjay52 Posts: 557 Member
    im an ice cream addict . summers are hard for me !! if i have to have it i try to buy it out at an ice cream place because if i get the half gallon im toast!
    I will be following this thread!

    There are unfortunately a lot of things I haven't been able to substitute. I've made baked French fries and they were ok, but it's still not the same thing and not as satisfactory. Cheesecake, same thing, the 'light' versions don't measure up. I make fantastic protein pancakes but it still doesn't compare to those buttermilk pancakes I made a few weeks ago... all the 'healthier' desserts I've made have turned out disappointing (except that 'skinny jelly roll up' that turned out to be 400 delicious calories, instead of the 100 they advertised).

    The only 'light' thing really that has totally satisfied my cravings were jello sugar free temptations (for chocolate mousse cravings), and random savory foods that I can make pretty well without adding a ton of butter or oil - fried rice, crepes, meatloaf, Mexican food etc. Breyer's ice cream is a good pick for ice cream too, but still not low calorie.

    Sometimes there just isn't a substitute for the real thing.
  • SamanthaKayShaver
    SamanthaKayShaver Posts: 43 Member
    oh goodness.. lets see

    Instead of noodles I've used sliced squash, asparagus, or even french cut green beans

    I've found "frying cheese" and fried just the piece of cheese with bread - taste just like a grilled cheese!

    I00 calorie kettle corn instead of potato chips

    Fruit and Cream oatmeal instead of cereal (I don't like almond milk or any other substitutes so i just don't do cereal any more)

    Low Carb Miracle Brownies instead of Little Debbies (made with stevia, almond meal, protien powder, and eggs i believe. Mom makes them for me)

    Frozen Yogurt instead of ice cream.

    I eat veggie burgers/chicken patties/sausage patties with egg beaters southwestern eggs every morning. They def not as good as regular eggs/real meat, but after an hour long workout, I want a HUGE meal. I can have that and not go over 300 calories with these in the mornings.

    Mashed califlower instead of potatoes

    Sugar Free caramels instead of candy

    Powerade Zero instead of Soda

    Lettece instead of bread/taco shells/tortillas

    Bell pepper in place of taco shells/tortillas! and i feel fancier when I do this!

    Laughing Cow cream cheese instead of full flavor/Philadelphia cream cheese

    Turkey brats instead of Regular brats



    The list goes on and on and on. I'm a former low carb-er (obviously) and it has kind of stuck with me. I rather have tons of protein is a lettuce wrap than a little meat on one dinky tortilla. My family loves their carbs, so I'm always find a way to alter the meals i make them work for me. :-)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Ok it's true, I've been eating more taco salads instead of tacos, and chicken sausage instead of pork now.
  • Natmarie73
    Natmarie73 Posts: 287 Member
    I make my own ice cream, yoghurt and sorbets instead of buying the high sugar versions from the supermarket. I think my versions are much yummier as they are not so sickenly sweet and full of fake flavours and preservatives.

    And if I want to make rissoles I mince my own meat either 100% lean beef or kangaroo and add the egg and chopped veggies. I once compared 100% kangaroo mince to kangaroo rissoles and the amount of fake stuff they add is alarming to say the least.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    You can saute your stir fry veggies in a little bit of low sodium vegetable broth, that way you don't need oil.

    Calorie_Density_Chart.jpg


    My feelings on oil:
    gotnotimeforthatshirt.jpg
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,217 Member
    You can saute your stir fry veggies in a little bit of low sodium vegetable broth, that way you don't need oil.
    Saute in vegetable broth?......it appears cooking is confusing for you as well.:wink:
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    You can saute your stir fry veggies in a little bit of low sodium vegetable broth, that way you don't need oil.

    I think you think the Saute means something different to what its does. I suggest a dictionary
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I haven't substituted much...greek yogurt for regular yogurt and sour cream.

    I was on my way to skim milk anyway...I find whole milk to rich.

    I fit in what I ate before as I don't plan on giving it up.
  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
    im an ice cream addict . summers are hard for me !! if i have to have it i try to buy it out at an ice cream place because if i get the half gallon im toast!

    Why not just fit ice cream into your day? And sorry you are not addicted to ice cream, you might enjoy it and you may over eat it but addicted no.
  • Go_Mizzou99
    Go_Mizzou99 Posts: 2,628 Member
    No substitutes. I eat the same as before. Just less.

    ^^^this^^^
  • adriadawn19
    adriadawn19 Posts: 174 Member
    I eat basically what I want just in moderation. I did cut way back on sweets though.
  • mumblemagic
    mumblemagic Posts: 1,090 Member
    I bake more things rather than fry them

    I still make sweets but use applesauce in place of the oil (or a portion of the oil) - no one in the family notices and we still get brownies, homemade waffles (add cinnamon and call them apple cinnamon waffles), and cupcakes.

    I made my own spreadable butter - 1/2 real butter 1/2 olive oil. Blend and keep in tupperware in fridge (still the creamy flavor but get the healthy olive oil.

    I made my own homemade syrup for my coffee - boil brown sugar and water at a 1 to 1 ratio - keep in bottle in fridge - (25 calories per TBS vs. 40 for the Torini Syrup) and I like it better.

    Ok, using applesauce instead of oil sounds crazy but amazing! Useful tip :-)

    And your own spreadable butter, genius!

    Substitutes-wise, I don't really do them. I refuse to eat anything that isn't tasty, so I'm no longer eating stuff just because it's there. I have switched out my chocolate snacks for fruity ones e.g. banana & yoghurt or raspberries, but I love them both so although they're not chocolate, they don't "feel low calorie", as it were.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    I eat real food. I just eat less of it and move a hell of a lot more than I did before.
  • sbarella
    sbarella Posts: 713 Member
    I refuse to eat anything that isn't tasty, so I'm no longer eating stuff just because it's there.
    Same here! I have nothing against processed food, but I no longer eat pre-packaged cookies and cakes or frozen pizza, I'd rather make my own. If they have to be calorie-dense foods (and yes, they have to be. I'm not into cauliflower madness) they'd better be at least delicious.
  • Okapi42
    Okapi42 Posts: 495 Member
    I've actually stopped using low-fat cream cheese and skimmed milk and switched to the full-fat versions. You need less because they're tastier and more satisfying.
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    22 months, 100 pounds and I refuse to give up the real taste of the foods I love. The biggest lesson - eating a smaller portion of the foods I love and getting my *kitten* off the couch.

    My brain had to undergo a transformation. I think differently now.