If your mind has been fixed on a buttery heap of mashed potatoes, don’t blame your stomach. Many of us have used food to relieve stress since childhood. Comfort foods taste good, but they can also bring back fond memories. Unfortunately, many comfort foods are also high in fat and calories.
Here’s how to trim down some of your heart-warming favorites:
• If a dip or spread calls for cream cheese, substitute half a cup of ricotta cheese blended with half a cup of fat-free cream cheese. Serve with whole-grain crackers.
• Add creaminess to soups and casseroles with evaporated fat-free milk instead of heavy cream. Bulk up casseroles, stews, and soups with beans and vegetables.
• Put your pie filling in a crust of crumbled graham crackers instead of pastry dough.
• Cut butter and oil from baked good by using applesauce instead. A half-cup of applesauce equals one cup of oil or butter.
Good Neighbor Pharmacy, October 2012
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