Tips to make your favorite foods healthier

After the whirlwind of the holiday season, many people are mentally preparing to give up their favorite foods to follow through with the new year’s resolution of being healthier. What many don’t realize is that resolving to eat healthier can be easy by making simple swaps when preparing the favorite foods.

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Choose crunchy foods. Those who are prone to snacking can reach for noisy foods. These include crunchy items like apples, carrots and pretzels.

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Tone down the cream. Comfort dishes like fettuccine alfredo typically are made with lots of butter and cream. Replace cream sauces with a healthier base made of low-fat milk thickened with flour. Increase the flavor with favorite spices.

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Fry with care. Use healthy oils like olive or coconut sparingly. Many foods that are traditionally fried also can be lightly coated with cooking spray and baked for a crunchy texture.

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Choose sodium-free seasonings. It is recommended to limit the sodium to less than 1 teaspoon of salt per day. Try options like fresh herbs or lemon juice to add some sodium-free flavor.

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Increase fiber content. Fiber helps one feel fuller longer and can also be helpful for digestion and heart health. Choose the brown varieties of rice, pasta and whole wheat breads.

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Replace meat with leaner forms of protein. Lean chicken and turkey can replace red meats in many recipes. Some traditional dishes such as burgers can also be modified using vegetables or seafood. Lean meats dry out quickly, so keep foods moist by watching cooking times.

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Stock up on yogurt. Greek and other varieties of yogurt can replace sour cream and mayonnaise in many dishes.

—MetroCreativeConnection