Holiday Cooking

Holiday celebrations can include many family members and friends, which often means lots of food. Some traditional recipes call for heavy amounts of sugars and fats, so if you’re trying to have a healthy holiday, here are some recipe substitution ideas.

Dairy

Use low fat versions of regular, evaporated, or condensed milk
Replace sour cream with low fat plain yogurt
Substitute whipped, evaporated skim milk for whipped cream

Fats

Replace up to half the butter or shortening in a baking recipe with unsweetened applesauce or mashed bananas. This reduces fat and increases fiber and nutrients
Grease pans with non-stick cooking spray
Dried fruits such as raisins or cranberries can replace nuts

Sugars

Reduce the amount of sugar in a baking recipe by a fourth to a third
Use three tablespoons cocoa powder and one tablespoon oil for one ounce of baking chocolate

Meats

Use Canadian bacon or lean ham in the place of bacon
Use lean ground turkey or low-fat sausage
Baste turkeys with broth instead of butter

If you’re bringing food to a party, try the ideas above, or bring a salad, fruit, or vegetable dish. If you’re worried about having high calorie foods around your home, don’t forget extras, such as desserts, can always be brought to work to share with co-workers.

By substituting for calorie rich ingredients and making sure to get regular exercise, you can have a healthy and less stressful holiday season.