This afternoon I decided to take my daughter for a little treat at "the golden arches." She wanted a Happy Meal and I had promised her, so off we went. I wasn't going to eat anything there because I've been watching my nutritional intake and didn't want to fall off the wagon.
About three months ago, I would find myself at lunch in a fast food drive through at least a couple of times a week. I would order a Big Mac or even a Double Quarter Pounder if I was exceptionally hungry. Sure, I still crave those fries when I drive by and get a good whiff, but now I can control my urges. But why can't I have these items at home using healthy alternatives?
I've been making copy cat recipes from my favorite restaurant for years. I've just never tried to make them healthy. Usually the goal is to make them taste exactly like I would get in the restaurant. But, now I have a different motive, losing some fat. There's no reason I couldn't substitute low fat cheese for the full fat version. I've done it with other recipes, there shouldn't be a reason I can't do it with restaurant recipes.
Of course, I know it's probably not going to taste EXACTLY the same, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little to save on the scale each morning. I also know Splenda isn't a duplicate for sugar and low fat cheese doesn't always melt exactly the same way regular cheese does, but that's OK.
If you think about it, there are a few major areas that contribute to our battle with our weight. They usually come down to sugar and fat. So, here are some things you can do to curb both of those culprits.
Reduced Fat Options - Everything from milk to cheese and even salad dressings come in low or no fat versions. Even eggs are offered with little to know fat now.
Turkey Isn't Just For Thanksgiving Anymore - As a matter of fact, it's for breakfast many mornings in my house. I've replaced my pork bacon with turkey bacon and cut a ton of fat out of my diet. You'll find turkey ham, turkey sausage and even turkey burgers.
Low Fat Oil? - Well, it's not really low fat oil, but it does reduce the amount of oil you use. What is it? Spray on oil. It's the same oil you pour into a pan, but when you spray it you can coat a pan with considerably less oil than you would pouring. It can even be sprayed on food you would normally deep fry, but want to bake instead. It puts a nice crispy coating on the food.
Sugar Substitutes - Splenda is one of my favorite substitutes. Consider using it instead of sugar anytime you need it. It measures one for one with sugar, so you don't have to do any of the math. It's simple, easy and tastes pretty good.
Low fat cheese on the top of your copy cat Pizza Hut pizza isn't going to taste exactly the same. It's not. But, if staying in shape is important to you, it's worth a few minor modifications. If you follow the rest of the recipe correctly, you'll end up with a good substitute.
I have plenty of top secret recipes on my website that are waiting for your modifications. Don't be afraid to experiment a little and see what you come up with. You never know, you might end up liking the new healthy version better than the one at the restaurant.
About three months ago, I would find myself at lunch in a fast food drive through at least a couple of times a week. I would order a Big Mac or even a Double Quarter Pounder if I was exceptionally hungry. Sure, I still crave those fries when I drive by and get a good whiff, but now I can control my urges. But why can't I have these items at home using healthy alternatives?
I've been making copy cat recipes from my favorite restaurant for years. I've just never tried to make them healthy. Usually the goal is to make them taste exactly like I would get in the restaurant. But, now I have a different motive, losing some fat. There's no reason I couldn't substitute low fat cheese for the full fat version. I've done it with other recipes, there shouldn't be a reason I can't do it with restaurant recipes.
Of course, I know it's probably not going to taste EXACTLY the same, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little to save on the scale each morning. I also know Splenda isn't a duplicate for sugar and low fat cheese doesn't always melt exactly the same way regular cheese does, but that's OK.
If you think about it, there are a few major areas that contribute to our battle with our weight. They usually come down to sugar and fat. So, here are some things you can do to curb both of those culprits.
Reduced Fat Options - Everything from milk to cheese and even salad dressings come in low or no fat versions. Even eggs are offered with little to know fat now.
Turkey Isn't Just For Thanksgiving Anymore - As a matter of fact, it's for breakfast many mornings in my house. I've replaced my pork bacon with turkey bacon and cut a ton of fat out of my diet. You'll find turkey ham, turkey sausage and even turkey burgers.
Low Fat Oil? - Well, it's not really low fat oil, but it does reduce the amount of oil you use. What is it? Spray on oil. It's the same oil you pour into a pan, but when you spray it you can coat a pan with considerably less oil than you would pouring. It can even be sprayed on food you would normally deep fry, but want to bake instead. It puts a nice crispy coating on the food.
Sugar Substitutes - Splenda is one of my favorite substitutes. Consider using it instead of sugar anytime you need it. It measures one for one with sugar, so you don't have to do any of the math. It's simple, easy and tastes pretty good.
Low fat cheese on the top of your copy cat Pizza Hut pizza isn't going to taste exactly the same. It's not. But, if staying in shape is important to you, it's worth a few minor modifications. If you follow the rest of the recipe correctly, you'll end up with a good substitute.
I have plenty of top secret recipes on my website that are waiting for your modifications. Don't be afraid to experiment a little and see what you come up with. You never know, you might end up liking the new healthy version better than the one at the restaurant.
About the Author:
Chef Pablo loves cooking. Whether it's his favorite restaurant recipes or authentic Mexican foods from his days growing up in San Diego, he's always excited to teach others how to please their guests in the kitchen with The Cheesecake Factory recipes, Outback Steakhouse, The Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory or Red Lobster.
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