"lightening" your favorite recipes

Tlglose
Tlglose Posts: 49 Member
edited January 20 in Food and Nutrition
I just made my zucchini casserole but cut a lot of calories. Instead of sauteeing the veggies I steamed them. I omitted the bacon, and cut the cheese content by approximately...a lot! Sure smells yummy. I hope it is. Please share what you do to cut calories and "heathify" your recipes :tongue:

Replies

  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,644 Member
    I just made brownies out of plantains. No oil at all and no wheat either - lots of nutrients!
  • AngieM76
    AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
    I can now eat my chicken salad without guilt by using plain greek yogurt instead of mayo!
  • supergirl6
    supergirl6 Posts: 224 Member
    I use a lot of recipes from skinnytaste.com which are usually slimmed down versions of awesome recipes. Never had a recipe there I didn't love.
  • TimeWarp9
    TimeWarp9 Posts: 91 Member
    I found an incredibly yummy recipe in Southern Living Cookbook for smothered enchiladas. To make it lighter and healthier, I replaced half (you could do all if you like) the ground beef with fat free refried beans for less fat and more fiber; I replaced one can of cream of chicken soup (it called for two...) with enchilada sauce to cut the fat and add a little more flavor; and of course the sour cream got replaced with plain Greek yogurt. There are some wonderful high fiber / low calorie tortilla options which also helped.
  • Catlady87
    Catlady87 Posts: 302 Member
    I don't use oil for things like back and eggs - I put the bacon in first and then the eggs, so there is enough fat off the bacon to cook the eggs.
    I don't use oil for onions if I'm going to add mince or chicken as its not necessary.
    I never realise how calorific oil was until I joined here.
  • KimberlyDCZ
    KimberlyDCZ Posts: 525 Member
    I use ground turkey and ground chicken in a lot for recipes that call for ground beef. I also LOVE Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil. Half the fat of regular mayo. I use whole grain pastas and tortillas in a lot of my recipes and cut back on cheese by measuring instead of choosing low fat versions. Also, I LOVE spaghetti squash! This is the BEST substitute for pasta. YUM!
  • Tlglose
    Tlglose Posts: 49 Member
    I use ground turkey and ground chicken in a lot for recipes that call for ground beef. I also LOVE Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil. Half the fat of regular mayo. I use whole grain pastas and tortillas in a lot of my recipes and cut back on cheese by measuring instead of choosing low fat versions. Also, I LOVE spaghetti squash! This is the BEST substitute for pasta. YUM!
  • Tlglose
    Tlglose Posts: 49 Member
    I use ground turkey and ground chicken in a lot for recipes that call for ground beef. I also LOVE Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil. Half the fat of regular mayo. I use whole grain pastas and tortillas in a lot of my recipes and cut back on cheese by measuring instead of choosing low fat versions. Also, I LOVE spaghetti squash! This is the BEST substitute for pasta. YUM!
    I love the Kraft mayo with olive oil too but it must be Kraft... not Helmans:smokin:
  • piggydog
    piggydog Posts: 322 Member
    Use Fat free organic milk for cooking instead of oil in allot of cases, also use it instead of regular in most recipes...

    I use yogurt instead of butter
  • Tlglose
    Tlglose Posts: 49 Member
    I use a lot of recipes from skinnytaste.com which are usually slimmed down versions of awesome recipes. Never had a recipe there I didn't love.
    thanks for the tip:flowerforyou:
  • Tlglose
    Tlglose Posts: 49 Member
    After browning and draining your ground beef.. rinse it with warm water in a colander. This will remove more of the fat that clings to it. :)
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