There is nothing like the time of family vacations: walks to any place with the children and your partner, rest from all work worries, and the opportunity to try all kinds of food with the excuse that "you are on vacation". However, you should be careful with the latter if you are a person who takes care of their weight.
We're also not telling you to deprive yourself of all the good things, as making a few small changes to your holiday recipes can allow you to enjoy yourself without the unwanted weight gain.
Discover 6 ways to cut calories from your favorite dishes while on vacation.
6 ways to cut calories from your holiday recipes
1. Use non-starchy vegetables
Adding non-starchy vegetables, such as cauliflower, zucchini, and carrots, to holiday dishes can significantly cut the calories in your dishes . For this reason, it would be advisable to replace some of the meaty, creamy or starchy ingredients with non-starchy vegetables. This can add color, flavor, and nutrition while keeping the portions the same.
For example, make mashed potatoes with equal parts boiled potatoes and cauliflower. For creaminess, use a low-calorie, plant-based milk such as unsweetened coconut milk instead of regular milk or cream. Then, flavor it with a roasted garlic, chives, or salt (truffle salt).
2. Use low calorie liquids
To get more moisture in a flavorful recipe like filling without increasing the calories, a flavorful, low-calorie liquid can help. Consider using low-sodium vegetable broth , such as carrot or other vegetable juice; unsweetened green tea; or a splash of apple cider vinegar instead of butter or oil.
As an alternative to salsa, it is recommended to purchase a non-starchy vegetable-based pureed vegetarian soup . These options could be organic ginger and carrot soup; organic red pepper and tomato soup; or organic creamy pumpkin soup.
3. Get natural sweetness with adequate sugars
Use natural alternatives to sugar to help you reduce the amount of refined sugar (and therefore calories) normally found in the fare on those vacations. For example, mix nuts, such as raisins, apricots, or blueberries, into baked goods. You can even use mashed bananas.
Use freshly squeezed grapefruit or lemon juice for your juices, and in dishes like sweet potato casserole, you can usually cut the amount of sugar in the typical recipe in half and use a less refined sweetener, like maple syrup in place of white sugar. This way you get more flavor and end up with fewer calories.
4. Cook roast or grill
A simple and low calorie cooking style . Grilling meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables is a wonderful way to bring out the sweetness and natural flavor of foods. Roasted sweet potatoes with cinnamon or fresh herbs and a little butter can be a delicious substitute for traditional calorie-laden casseroles.
Pork chops with mushrooms (all roasted) also make a tasty, low-calorie substitute for a traditional dish . For dessert, cut your calories by opting for grilled or baked apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon, and a drizzle of honey instead of the traditional apple pie.
5. Extract the calories, not the taste
Extracts and spices offer a great deal of flavor with little or no calories. This makes them ideal for lightening up holiday dishes. For example, you can make clever use of pure vanilla, coconut, chocolate, and almond extracts in select and sweet dishes.
Reduce the sugar in your dessert by as much as 25% , for example, by using three-quarters of a cup of sugar instead of a cup. Next, add the scent of extra sweetness with a little extra flavor extract, such as a quarter teaspoon of pure vanilla extract plus a pinch of a sweet spice, like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
6. Light desserts
Instead of making large servings of calorie-laden treats, focus on smaller servings with a lighter touch. For example, instead of chocolate cake, opt for chocolate-dipped strawberries. If you want a cake, choose or make a healthier cake using nonfat evaporated milk and seasonal fruit. Greek yogurt is a healthy and tasty substitute for oil , butter, and cream cheese in baked goods.
On the other hand, if you are making a cheesecake, simply substitute a cup of Greek yogurt instead of a cup of cream cheese. You will reduce the amount of fat and calories, but keep the taste creamy and delicious.
For best results, allow the yogurt to come to room temperature before using it in recipes.
Reference
- Bannan, P. 9 Ways to cut calories from your favorite holiday dishes. For Livestrong [Revised December 2017]
