Healthy Recipe Substitutions

Healthy Recipe Substitutions

We all have our favorite family recipes that we love to make and eat. Then you hear the news from your physician that you need to eat healthier, lose weight, and/or cut down on fat, sugar, and salt intake. So how do you still enjoy your favorite recipes, while taking care of your health. Below are some healthy ingredient substitutions for your favorite dishes without losing the great taste you want.

These are ideas that everyone will enjoy.

Substitution List for your favorite recipes

Instead of cream in a recipe: Use fat free half-and-half, evaporated milk

Instead of one egg:  Use 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute

Instead of regular mayonnaise:  Use low-fat mayonnaise

Instead of whole milk:  Use 1% fat or skim milk

Instead of sugar:  Reduce the sugar in the recipe in ½, or use 1/2 sugar and 1/2 Splenda, or add cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract

Instead of fruit canned in heavy syrup: Use canned fruit  in its own juices, fresh fruit, or frozen fruit

Instead of sour cream: Use reduced fat sour cream or low-fat plain yogurt

Instead of cream cheese: Use reduced fat cream cheese or nonfat ricotta cheese

Instead of vegetable oil in dessert recipes: Use less oil than what the recipe calls for, or replace half of the oil with unsweetened applesauce, or use half unsweetened applesauce and half plain low-fat yogurt

Instead of butter, margarine, shortening or oil to prevent sticking in a pan: Use cooking spray or use a non-stick cooking pan.

Instead of bacon: Use Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, smoked turkey or lean prosciutto (Italian ham)

Instead of dry bread crumbs: Use Rolled oats or crushed high fiber cereal

Instead of Pasta, enriched (white): Use whole wheat pasta

Instead of recommended amount of cheese in a recipe: Cut the amount in half