You don't have to feel guilty about splurging on your favorite dishes and goodies this holiday season. You can enjoy all those special holiday recipes - prepared healthier with these simple substitutions:
- Applesauce or Plums: Substitute canned applesauce or plums in your holiday cookie, cake and pie recipes as a healthier alternative to butter and oils.
- Pumpkin: Canned pumpkin makes more than just great pies. Instead of using heavy cream or butter in your mashed potatoes, mix in a can of pumpkin filling and a few dashes of your favorite herb.
- Broths: Instead of sautéing your meats and vegetables in oil, try steaming them in a 1/2 cup of canned vegetable, chicken or beef broth. Not only a healthier alternative, but tastier too! Canned chicken broth also can be used in place of butter to moisten the mashed potatoes on your holiday dinner table.
- Cranberry Sauce: Go easy on the gravy and opt for canned cranberry sauce on your turkey for a nutritious and fat-free option.
- Vegetables: Replace some of the bread in your holiday stuffing with canned chestnuts - a nutritious and different alternative. And to lighten your stuffing and add valuable nutrients, use lots of canned, chopped vegetables.
- Cocoa: When holiday baking recipes call for chocolate, you can substitute three tablespoons of cocoa for every one ounce of chocolate.
- Evaporated Milk: Substitute 1/2 cup of canned evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup of water when recipes call for one cup of sweet milk. An easy way to make your holiday baking a little bit healthier.
- Yogurt: To top off your holiday pies, try using frozen or low-fat yogurt instead of whipped cream or ice cream. Also, when your holiday hors d'oeuvre recipes call for sour cream, use plain yogurt instead to create holiday snacks that are delicious and healthy.
