After a holiday season filled with parties, Christmas cookies, and other indulgences, many of us have made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or at least try to get healthier. While it’s not my number one goal for the year, eating healthier is pretty high up on my list of priorities. It’s second to getting organized which in effect does improve my health, as it will help me to keep my sanity in tact. To ensure my success on the road to a healthier diet, I’ve rounded up 16 healthy recipe makeovers that cut some of the calories and fat from some of my favorite dishes.
Simple Ways to Cut Calories and Fat from Recipes
- Saute vegetables in a couple of tablespoons of low-sodium vegetable broth, instead of oil or butter.
- Use Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise and sour cream.
- Bulk up meals with lots of extra vegetables.
- Squeeze on citrus, instead of using butter for added flavor.
- When making cream-based soups, sub fat-free half-and-half for any heavy cream.
- When baking, substitute fats like butter and oil with apple sauce.
- Downsize portions. I know this is obvious, but eating smaller portions can go a long way in helping you to lose weight.
- Remove the skin from chicken. You can keep the skin on while cooking to retain moisture, but remove the skin before eating. Three ounces of chicken breast meat with skin has almost 150 calories; three ounces of chicken without the skin has 50 fewer calories.
I’m one of those people who needs to take baby steps when making changes. So, if you’re anything like me you’ll appreciate that all of these tips are rather doable and simple changes that you probably won’t even notice. I would love to hear some of your tips for cutting calories and fat.
Which recipe do you most want to try?
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Those are some great options! I need some ideas– all in one place like this
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Mmm… that spaghetti squash alfredo looks mighty good.
Thanks for the tips. We have used applesauce instead of oil for all our baking for ages. It works great and is still moist. I didn’t know that about chicken breast skin being 50 calories.
I love taco dip. Thanks for the recipe makeovers!
The mac and cheese sounds so great, and I love that is made healthier.
I am definitely trying that skinny taco dip later this week!
I want that skinny taco dip! Yum!
I definitely want to try the Skinny Taco Dip. I’ve been a Mexican food kick lately.
Your Skinny Taco Dip looks so Yummy. How awesome! Something that looks as good and tastes Great is actually Healthier for you. I too am trying to eat Healthier. This recipe definitely made my List! Thankyou for sharing!