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Simple Changes in the Diet You Won’t Even Notice!

Do you have a favorite recipe that you rarely make because you think it has too much fat and calories? Well, there are some simple and easy ways that you can give your recipe a makeover. You can easily reduce the fat and calorie content by using the following tips from CaloriesCount.com:

• Try cooking with more heart-healthy liquids, rather than oil. These include lemon juice, sherry, tomato sauce, vinegar, skim or 1% milk, wine, low-fat broth, fruit juice or a combination of these.
• Use skim or 1% milk when the recipe calls for whole milk.
• To thicken a liquid without adding fat, use one of the following: flour, cornstarch, potato flakes, yogurt, non-fat evaporated milk.
• Use an egg substitute or 2 egg whites in place of a whole egg.
• Use low-fat versions of cheese, sour cream, ice cream, salad dressings, etc.
• Replace butter with margarine. (Note for optimal results, be sure to cook with a margarine that has greater than 50 percent oil. This works well for most cooking. Also note that many recipes have been specificallsy developed for the use of margarine products. However, if a recipe calls for a precise amount of fat and moisture, such as pastry crusts and spritz cookies, you should use a margarine that contains 60 percent oil. All other margarine products are appropriate for spreading, topping and adding flavor to recipes.)
• Use vegetables as the main course. Hearty (and more "meat-like") vegetables include Portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts, eggplant, green, red or yellow peppers.
• Use fresh spices to enhance your meals.
• Replace oil with applesauce to make a lower-fat, heart-healthy recipe. (One cup of unsweetened applesauce may replace 1 cup of oil.)
• If a recipe calls for cheese, use the low-fat version. Or use half of the regular kind and half low-fat. Although this may not lower the fat and calorie content as much as using strictly low-fat cheese, if a recipe depends on cheese for flavor, you may find that the taste is better. (The cheese will also melt better.)

Try experimenting with a few of your favorite recipes. Chances are you can find ways to reduce the fat and calorie content with little effort. You and your family will hardly notice the change - except in your waistline.