We all know that homemade treats are ALWAYS better than those store bought treats!
Here are a few ways to make those homemade treats even better. Check out these alternatives to some of the not so healthy ingredients you often cook with. They won’t change the taste-simply improve the health benefits of your cooking!
Instead of Sugar …
Swap for unsweetened applesauce in a 1:1 ratio (1 cup sugar = 1 cup applesauce). NOTE: For every 1 cup of applesauce, reduce the amount of other liquid by ¼ cup.
Or, swap ripe bananas (without brown spots) in a 1:½ ratio (1 cup sugar = ½ cup banana).
Instead of Oils & Butter…
Swap either pumpkin puree or applesauce in 1:1 ratio (½ cup oil = ½ cup pumpkin or applesauce).
Swap prune puree in a 1:1 ratio (½ cup of oil = ½ cup prune puree). This works best in dark-colored items like brownies.
Instead of Flour…
Swap wheat flour for gluten-free flour (almond, coconut, etc.) (Follow the package directions for proper ratio).
Or, try rinsed and drained canned black beans in a 1:1 ratio (1 cup flour = 1 cup black beans).
Other Alternatives…
- Use cooking sprays to coat pans instead of rubbing butter or oil on them.
- Thicken soups with pureed vegetables such as potatoes and carrots or cooked risotto rice instead of adding cream.
- Barley in place of rice.
- Replace whole milk with 2% milk or 1% milk.
- Replace mayo or sour cream with Greek yogurt.
- Replace granulated sugar with vanilla extract (2T sugar = 1/2 t vanilla).
- Use unsalted butter, fresh herbs. Cinnamon and vanilla extract in place of sugar.
- Replace mayo with mustard or hummus.
I hope you found this to be useful on your journey and thank you for reading.
If you have a minute I’d LOVE for you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below.
Live Stronger For Today,
John Heringer
Chief Motivator, Method3 Fitness
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