Lighten Up Your Favorite Recipes

As an avid baker, I've used pretty much every fattening, sugary, high calorie ingredient out there. Since I bake and cook on a regular basis for my blog, I go through my fair share of sugar, butter, corn starch, flour, olive oil and anything else you can think of. It's a bit disheartening knowing that I can easily go through three pounds of butter in a matter of hours. So, after being forced to bring my scale (and my dignity) out of hiding, I decided to make some changes to my baking and cooking habits. 

My first change was using more applesauce and less butter, sugar and oil. Sometimes, you can't get around using the latter ingredients, but when you can, use applesauce or fruit preserves in place of the more fatty and sugary options. Greek yogurt is also a great substitution to keep your baked goods moist and your savory dishes creamy, a much smarter option than buttermilk or heavy cream. 

For sugar substitutions, try honey, maple syrup, agave nectar or natural fruit juices. They maintain the same overall quality, but reduce the sugar content by one third. These substitutions also give you a reason to try out different flavor combinations and spice up the tired, boring recipes you might be used to making!

For savory recipes, try using low sodium chicken or beef broth instead of oil. This works great for stir-fry dishes and marinades and significantly reduces your calorie and fat intake. Another great substitution for oil is wine. It provides amazing flavor and aroma and makes for a lighter dish and a lighter you!

When it comes down to it, any ingredient can be substituted for a healthier one. It's up to you to be brave with your recipes and get creative with your flavors!

Meesch (Michele DeWitt) is a twenty-something graphic designer and marketing professional living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When she's taking a break from designing, she is an avid baker, crafter and amateur photographer. She also pens the blog, a perfect kind of day, where she posts anything and everything that inspires her to see the beauty in every day.