Healthy Alternatives…
July 05 2011
Last week we asked for your help. We’re all victims of guilty snacking – and after giving us your input, Chef Paul has come up with some healthy alternatives….
Nachos
Taco chips have tons of sodium so look for a “low sodium” version. Also, try the “multi grain” nachos chips. Use fat free sour cream and load the nachos up with lots of vegetables (green onions, red peppers, shredded lettuce) and less cheese.
If you want to top them with meat, make sure you choose lean ground beef or even try them with ground turkey. You can also make your own seasoning mix instead of using a store bought version that will contain lots of sodium.
If you like refried beans on your nachos, look for the “fat free” versions that are available out there. Or better yet, top them with guacamole. While high in fat, avocadoes have mostly monounsaturated fat which is not nearly as bad for you as saturated or Trans fats. They are also high in fiber, Vitamin B, E and K.
Cheesecake
Other than reducing the portion size, the best alternative to a traditional cheese cake is a tofu cheesecake. A tofu cheesecake will taste surprisingly similar yet have less than 300Kcal and about 15g of fat per serving…which is still kind of a lot.
Caramel microwave popcorn with salted nuts thrown in
This sounds yummy and I’m sure tastes great too. My first thoughts are not using microwave popcorn but doing it on the stovetop where you can control the amount of fat and salt added. Again, cutting down on the portion size is the best advice. You could also try different toppings like grated cheese, spice mixtures or for sweetness, try incorporating some chopped dried fruit such as apples or apricots as well as unsalted nuts.
Okay, so you still won’t want to go overboard with any of the above, but anything in moderation is good! If you have any other guilty snacks you would like a guilt-free suggestion for, drop Chef Paul a line: talk@mealeasy.com
