Tips for Healthier Recipes

• Cut the fat in half (it usually won't affect the recipe)
• Reduce the sugar in recipes by 1/4 to 1/3 without affecting the recipe much
• Puree mashed potatoes with chicken stock and mustard instead of butter or cream
• Rub lemon or lime juice, rather than butter, into chicken or turkey before baking.  Don't remove the skin until the bird is cooked.  Makes a moister, more flavorful, and less fatty dish.
• Add chopped or pureed carrots, spinach, zucchini, etc. to meat loaf, lasagna, or pasta sauce
• Use evaporated skim milk in place of half-and-half.  (less fatty and not as perishable)
• Reduce the salt in non-yeast baking recipes
• Add drop of lemon juice to water for pasta instead of salt
• Substitute up to half of shortening in recipes with applesauce, pureed prunes, mashed bananas, or yogurt.  Also reduce the oven temp by 25 degrees and check for doneness early, since lower fat content can cause baked goods to dry out quicker
• Use whole grain products