If you are trying to make healthy lifestyle choices, you may think you have to give up some of your favorite foods. Not true! There are lots of ways to make your favorites lower in calories, fats, and sodium.
- Love mashed potatoes? Mash white potatoes with low-sodium and/or fat-free chicken broth instead of milk, butter, and salt. Mash sweet potatoes with orange juice instead of butter for a touch of sweetness.
- Making a stir fry? Fat-free Italian salad dressing makes a flavorful sauce without adding a lot of fat and calories.
- Use fat-free sour cream, fat-free yogurt, and fat-free cream cheese in preparing your favorite dips and desserts.
- Use part-skim and/or fat-free cheeses to make cheesecake, lasagna, and mac-n-cheese. You’ll keep the creamy texture but give up the unhealthy fats.
- Switch your butter and margarine for heart-healthy canola oil.
- Pick whole-grain breads, pasta, and chips.
- Craving a homemade fruit pie? Skip one of the crusts and cut the fat and calories that way. Make it a fruit crisp instead of a fruit pie — it tastes just as good!
- Flavor your foods with spices, rather than salt. Experiment with different flavors until you find spices you and your family love.
- Choose lean cuts of meat over fattier cuts. Season your meat with spices instead of salt. Try lime juice, garlic, and cilantro to season chicken and beef. Choose a lean pork tenderloin for your family dinner, rather than a fattier cut of pork.
- Make trail mix using whole-grain cereal, dry roasted peanuts, and dried fruits like cranberries and apricots — avoid the extra sugary dried fruits like pineapple.
- Make sure your family has plenty of access to fresh fruits and fresh veggies for snacking. Use low-fat or fat-free salad dressings for a tasty dip for your vegetable sticks.
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