12 Healthier Cooking Substitutions!

I know, we've all been there. Craving mexican food, a sweet tooth, something salty, or in my case, something hot and crunchy (i know, totally weird but true). So to continue to eat all these great foods, I have devised a list using different sources and some are my own trial-by-errors as well that I have found work AND are much lower in calories!! The only real consideration to take in is when baking-- baking is much less forgiving for substitutes because of the consistency usually involved with ingredients. Ex-- you can substitute splenda baking sugar in just about any baking recipe, but you cannot (most of the time) substitute unsalted butter because of the taste it expels when baked. Needless to say, there are lots of variations you can use to lower calories with the same great taste! Try em out!! =)

1. Sugar = sweet & low for taste, or splenda baking sugar for consistency

2. Sour Cream = plain nonfat greek yogurt or fat free cottage cheese
3. Butter = Margarine for consistency, applesauce (or other puree) for taste

4. Salt = no sodium herb blends, lemon juice, OR in my case, how 'bout this--> NO SALT?! YEA!
5. Ground beef = ground turkey, ground pork

6. Heavy Cream (not valid for whipping cream) = Evaporated Skim Milk
7. Regular cheese = reduced fat cheese

8. Seasoning Salt (contains LOTS of sodium) = fresh herbs! Nothing like fresh herbs...mmm...

9. Shortening = Trans-Fat Free Margarine

10. Butter (to coat) = Oilve Oil Cooking Spray

11. Egg = Egg white substitute or egg substitute (much healthier)

12. Whole Milk = Skim Milk

 

 

Try em out and feel free to leave feedback! =)