Soon the season to indulge will be upon us, but who says it can’t be done with some moderation? Between the sweet potato pie and the festive family meals, we tend to cheat on our fruits and vegetables.
This season, keep from over-indulging by simply finding substitutions in your favorite recipes. Use plain yogurt for sour cream, oats for bread crumbs, and skim milk and cornstarch for heavy cream. These are just a few easy swaps you can make in your recipes that won’t sacrifice taste, but will leave you feeling a little less guilty.
Here are several tips to lighten your delicious recipes this season:
1. Always choose whole grain options by adding whole-wheat flour in your baking and using whole-grain pasta in your recipes.
2. Challenge yourself to eat-the-season by using ingredients that are winter fresh. Chat with your local grocery provider for a fresh in-season alternative.
3. When playing bartender, soda water is a much lighter alternative to tonic water. Or try adding freshly sliced citrus fruits to your flat and sparkling water for added taste. Increased water consumption keeps you from filling up on other calorie-laden drinks.
4. Be generous to others. If you’ve done a lot of baking for a special night or occasion send your guests home with the left over sweets so you aren’t tempted to overeat.
