7 ways to healthier cooking
and baking
by Sarah Baker
“Holidays can bring on the extra stress of worrying about those calories we consume...”
Holidays can bring on the extra stress of worrying about those calories we consume. You all know what I’m talking about; the egg nog, candy, pies and cakes we love from Christmas until the New Year! Most of us have a new year goal of being more mindful of our eating habits. Unfortunately if we don't have a game plan then we fall short of making the changes we need to start the new year off right. Let's face it, it can be very hard to give up the baked goods we love. But with just a few changes we can cut out extra calories and reduce our sugar intake. Here are some easy ways to start off 2015 with the goal to make baking just a little bit healthier
Agave or Raw Buckweat Honey Ditch the white sugar and try Agave or raw Buckwheat Honey. Agave is sweeter than sugar so you'll use less. Try 1/2 cup Agave when recipe calls for one cup sugar. Be aware that the verdict is still out as to claims made about agave, but my goal is to cut down on the total amount of sugar used in recipes. Buckwheat Honey is loaded with flavenoids and while some advocate using same amount of honey as sugar in recipes, I tend to use less honey. (3/4 cup honey to 1 cup sugar). Look for "raw" buckwheat honey as this is the healthiest.
Almond Meal For those going glutenfree, this is a great alternative for recipes using white flour. It's nutritious and low in sugar and carbs with a mild nutty taste. But keep in mind that there can be considerable calories involved depending on the amount you use. For others that want to stick with flour, try whole wheat as it is instantly healthier than white because of the added fiber.
Apple Sauce When your recipe calls for one cup oil, just replace with 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup apple sauce. You'll be surprised to notice no difference! Applesauce made from scratch of course is the healthiest. However, store bought applesauce still contains a good amount of antioxidants found i whole apples. Either way, you'll be getting vitamins and minerals by using this alternative.
White Beans For those of you that don't use soy products such as tofu, try using canned, rinsed and smashed, or pureed, white (Great Northern) beans to replace half the fat in recipes. An excellent source of carbs, protein and iron, northern beans have a mild flavor that work well for a fat alternative. It's important to rinse canned beans because they are higher in sodium and possible added ingredients.
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