Healthy Foods & Cooking

With some simple tweaks, you can lighten up regular recipes for muffins, brownies, omelets, casseroles, and other tasty treats, making them healthier. For instance, in most bakery recipes, using whole-wheat flour for two-thirds or one-half of the white flour adds needed fiber, magnesium and selenium. Without a difference in taste and texture, you also can reduce the sugar called for by about one-fourth or one-third, and reduce embellishments like chocolate chips. Sprinkle powdered sugar on cakes instead of using frosting. Reduce fat and calories in baked goods by cutting the fat ingredient such as butter or margarine by one-half and substituting a moist ingredient like applesauce, fat-free sour cream or orange juice. Instead of deep-frying foods, oven-fry or pan-fry them in less oil to reduce calories and fat. Use canola or olive oil.