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Lighten Up Your Recipes This Thanksgiving

Ah, the Thanksgiving feast – a major aspect of the holiday that brings people together, with the warm camaraderie of being with loved ones. Alas, most of these delicious fares – some are recipes handed down through generations – are also laden with fats and sugar. What’s a well-meaning person to do?
If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, here’s a challenge: why not serve foods that are just as delicious, but without the excessive fats and sugar? Slightly modifying your Thanksgiving favorites may yield a feast that’s just as tasty and filling as you remember , but much healthier as well.  Hodgson Mill can give you some ideas.
•    Fruit for oil – That old secret about using applesauce as a fat substitute is tried and true, but do you know that a variety of other foods, including pureed canned pears, peaches, apricots, and plums (even baby food fruit purees and mashed bananas) also make great substitutes for oil in baked goods? Fruit purees help tenderize baked products because of their naturally occurring sugar, and they also promote browning. That’s not to mention all the antioxidants and other minerals you’d be adding to your baked treats. 

Remember: avoid overbaking. Reduced-fat baked goods tend to bake faster than those baked with extra oil, so overbaking will dry them. Try lowering the over temperature by 25 degrees and check for doneness a few minutes early.

•    Egg secret – Due to the high fat and high cholesterol in eggs, you can try to replace at least part of the egg in your baked good recipe.  Eggs perform important functions in baked goods, so they cannot be eliminated entirely, and it really is best to leave at least one whole egg in the recipe for better result.  Try combining whole eggs with egg whites or fat-free egg substitute – for example, two egg whites can stand for one whole egg.  Hint: Replace one egg with 1 Tbsp Flax Seed with 3 Tbsp water as a substitute

•    That old bird – Cook chicken and turkey with skin on to keep it more moist and flavorful. Remove the skin after cooking or when the food gets on your own plate. You may also want to baste the turkey (or any other meat) with juice or broth instead of butter or other fats, to give an interesting twist to the flavor. Similarly, when a meat recipe calls for you to sauté meat in butter or oil, do it with wine instead, or cook it in broth or tomato juice. 

•    Stuff it or top it – Replace stuffings and breaded toppings or coatings with herbs and spices – for anything calling for croutons or other bread pieces, be sure to use whole grain versions. As for casseroles, combine low-fat grated cheeses with wheat germ or whole wheat bread crumbs as topping, to give that unique texture and flavor that’s sure to win you compliments.

•    Sweets for my baby – You cannot totally sacrifice sugar, but you can reduce the amount of sugar by 25%, and the change in taste will hardly be noticeableYou have a heavenly treat that tackles sweet cravings, only for a lot less sugar content.
•    These are just a few ideas to keep your family and friends on a healthy diet track this holiday season.  Hodgson Mill wishes you a joyful celebration.