Healthy Alternative Recipies

[livewell]

Now that I’ve made the decision to change my eating habits and I’m striving to put good stuff in my bod, I was kinda bummed when the thought of how my favorite foods are actually filled with sugar and fat and all that icky bad stuff, soooooooooooo I am on a quest to find healthy alternatives to replace my favorite decadent yummies!

I loooooooove TGIF’s Potato Skins, Starbuck’s Blueberry Scones, and Recesses Peanut Buttercups. I did a little web surfing and came up with these recipes. If anyone has any favorite nutritious low cal recipe replacements for “no no yum yums” pleeeeeze share.
Thanks!

Gimme Some Skin!


Ingredients:
3 medium-sized potatoes
1/2 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. Betty Crocker Bac-Os Bits
1/4 cup chopped chives (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Prep potatoes by washing & drying to remove dirt and piercing them several times with a fork to prevent bursting while cooking.
Place potatoes on a microwave-safe plate.
Microwave for 4 minutes.
Turn potatoes over and return to microwave for 4 more minutes.
Allow to cool for a few minutes.
Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Using a fork, gently scrape out the bulk of the flesh.
Place potato skins on a baking dish spritzed with nonstick spray.
Cook for 8-10 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your potato skins.

Evenly distribute cheese and bacon bits onto potato skins.
Turn off oven, but return skins to the oven until the cheese has melted (for crispy crunchy cheese, leave the oven on).

Remove and top with chives.
Cut skins in half. Serve with fat-free sour cream and/or salsa.

Makes 3 servings.

Serving Size: 4 pieces
Calories: 146
Fat: <1g
Sodium: 281mg
Carbs: 25g
Fiber: 4g
Sugars: 1.3g
Protein: 10g

Compare to TGIF’s Potato Skins

Serving Size: 4 pieces
Calories: 281
Fat: 16g
Sodium: 453mg
Carbs: 27g
Fiber: 2.7g
Sugars: approx. 1.3g


Let’s Get Sconed!


Ingredients:
2/3 cup uncooked oatmeal (not instant)
1/3 cup Bisquick Heart Smart Baking Mix
½ tsp. Baking powder
1 tbsp. Brown sugar
2 tsp. Smart Balance 37%
Light Buttery Spread
1/3 cup light vanilla soymilk
¾ cup blueberries

Directions:
Set oven to 400 degrees.
Mix first 6 ingredients in a bowl. Fold in berries.
Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and form 4 mounds of batter on sheet (leave room in between ‘em – they expand!).
Bake for 10 minutes.

Makes 4 large scones.

Serving Size: 1 scone
Calories: 130
Fat: 3g
Sodium: 195mg
Carbs: 24g
Fiber: 2.25g
Sugars: 7g
Protein: 3.5g

Compare to Starbuck’s Blueberry Scone
Serving Size: 1 average scone (4 oz.)
Calories: 420
Fat: 17g
Sodium: 430mg
Carbs: 60g Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 17g
Protein: 7g



Peanut Butter Yup!


Ingredients:
1 8-oz. container Cool Whip Free
1/3 cup Better ‘n Peanut Butter Regular Creamy 4 tbsp.
Hershey’s Syrup, Sugar Free

Directions:
Line a 12-cupcake pan with cupcake holders, or spray pan with nonstick spray.
Using a whisk, combine one cup of Cool Whip Free with Better 'n Peanut Butter. Fold in remaining Cool Whip.
Pour the mixture into cupcake tin evenly (approx. 2.5 tablespoons each).
Top each cup with a dollop of sugar-free chocolate syrup (about 1 tsp.). Freeze.
Enjoy.

Serves 12.

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 56
Fat: 0.5g
Sodium: 61mg
Carbs: 10g
Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 2.5g
Protein: <1g

Compare to Recesses Peanut Butter Cup
Serving Size: One 1.5-oz. Big Cup
Calories: 230
Fat: 13g
Sodium: 140mg
Carbs: 23g
Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 20g
Protein: 5g

[shawnyboy]

wow you did a lot of freakin research! im quite impressed
i recently found out how bad all that yummy food i was eating is..i made one tiny change
splenda instead of sugar

[desperate housewife]

splenda is my life...and i have come to terms with the fact that it will give me cancer one day but im genetically predisposed to it so it doesn't bother me all that much!

I really want to try out the 'peanut butter yup' it looks sooooo good

[Sportsmedjosh]

I would rather eat something natural then put something invented in a lab. The long term effects os sugar subs are not yet known.

[shawnyboy]

I think the whole splenda things a load of bs
how long did they wait to find out cigarettes cause lung cancer? im sure quite a while..so lets not jump to hasty conclusions about splenda

[livewell]

I remember reading somewhere that Splenda was not bad for you like Aspartame-NutraSweet, Equal? Truth or more advertising fibbing?
Anyone know off hand?:ponder

[Sportsmedjosh]

nutrasweet was actually proven dangerous a while back, plus splenda hasn't been around as long as the others. Why take a risk with these other products. I don't understand why people don't like to use sugar.

[shawnyboy]

because a lot of sugar is bad
just because i try and eat/drink stuff with splenda doesnt mean i stray away from sugar 100%, there are sugars in everything i eat, just i choose not to eat any sugar unless its already in the food product im eating