When I’m not helping someone learn how to choose healthier foods, I’m usually assisting them in figuring out how to fit healthier foods into their day. It is a struggle I deeply and personally understand. Since not providing my family with wholesome meals wasn’t an option for me I had to find a happy medium on how to fit those healthier foods into my day.
Last night, I looked through my kitchen cabinets – not just in the front, which houses all of my go-to, use-all-the-time ingredients, but to the deep, dark back. I was shocked. Soup from 2005. Canned tomatoes from 2006. Canned veggies from who knows when (the label was ripped).
I moved to the freezer. I’m embarrassed to say how many bags of frozen vegetables I have stockpiled. Suffice it to say, I could make stir fry every night for the next three weeks.
Lucky for me, all of these (mostly) non-perishables will last for a little while longer. It got me to thinking, though…how many of us stock pile like this? And is it just being wasteful?
Never fear. We can combat this torturous use of the heart of the home in three (pretty painless) steps…
You don’t need to spend a lot to lose a lot (of calories, that is). Try these replacements to make your kitchen – and your cooking habits a little healthier.
Use extra virgin olive oil (or even my Mom’s favorite – sesame oil, which can be used at higher temperatures without burning) instead of butter.
One of my favorite tricks is using fat free (or low fat) plain or flavored yogurt instead of oil when I make brownies. It depends on what you’re making, but there are probably a ton of baking recipes where this trick could be used.
Use egg whites instead of whole eggs – you’ll lose a lot of cholesterol and fat, but maintain the protein.
Love your fruity cocktails? I know they’re yummy, but replace that full-of-sugar juice with soda water in your mixed drinks, and you’ll lose a ton of the calories.
Get rid of your bleached white flour and replace it with whole wheat for all of your baking and cooking.
What is your favorite replacement in the kitchen?
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