| e probably got hundreds of recipes in your collection | | | | may contain salt, sugar or fat. Read the labels and |
| but maybe not all of them are as healthy as you'd | | | | substitute as necessary. But don't just blindly add a |
| like them to be. Which is likely a shame as there's a | | | | low fat option without checking that the |
| good chance that some of those recipes are | | | | manufacturer hasn't simply substituted sugar for fat. |
| amongst your favorites. | | | | 2. Make Healthy Substitutions |
| How do you go about changing your favorite recipes | | | | As well as examining labels, look for ways to increase |
| into ones that are healthy for you? Even those old | | | | the nutrition in the food you eat. Whole wheat pasta, |
| family favorites that have been passed down | | | | brown rice, whole grain cereals. All of these are easy |
| through the generations. | | | | substitutes and will likely enhance the taste of the |
| 1. Reduce the amount of fat, sugar and salt in your | | | | dish you are cooking - they have less of the original |
| recipes. | | | | product removed in the manufacturing process, which |
| You'll be pleasantly surprised just how much you can | | | | leaves more taste available for you. |
| reduce the level of fat, sugar and salt in your recipes | | | | 3. If possible, delete an unhealthy ingredient |
| without affecting the taste. If you've cut back too | | | | Many recipes react well to variations (you may even |
| much, it's always possible to add a little bit more salt | | | | find alternatives listed at the end of the recipe). |
| at the table. You can reduce the amount of fat by | | | | Substitute frosted ingredients for un-frosted ones to |
| using a non stick pan and an oil spray rather than | | | | cut down on sugar, for instance. Be careful with |
| slurping oil into the pan. You can also use a slotted | | | | adding nuts to a dish as they are high in fat (although |
| spoon to skim off any excess fat as the recipe | | | | the fat is usually considered "good" fat, so don't cut |
| cooks. Cutting down on sugar will depend on what | | | | them out entirely). Let your family and guests add |
| you're cooking, but it's generally safe to try initially | | | | their own toppings such a mayonnaise and sauces. |
| cutting sugar down by a quarter - I doubt you'll | | | | Consider substituting lower salt, fat and sugar |
| notice the difference. | | | | versions of these sauces. And don't squeeze that |
| Salt is necessary in recipes for bread as otherwise | | | | maple syrup quite as hard the next time you eat a |
| the yeast won't be able to do it's job. In other | | | | stack of pancakes! |
| recipes, such as crock pots and stews, you should | | | | Once you start converting your recipes, you'll |
| easily be able to reduce the salt you use by half with | | | | become more imaginative and will have a good idea |
| very little effect on the final taste. You may even | | | | on what is working and what isn't Keep a notebook |
| find that with an imaginative use of sauces, you can | | | | handy so that you can remember the successes and |
| eliminate salt from some of your recipes entirely. | | | | adjust the times when the changes you made |
| Remember that some of the ingredients you use | | | | weren't as successful as you'd have liked. |