Substitutions. Post 'em if you got 'em!

[supernova]

Choices. It always boils down to choices.

But, if you really gotta have something on your "naughty" list, is there a healthier alternative that would make you just as happy and not set you back as much as the original?

I'll start. Here are a couple of my favorite substitutes:

Cola/Soda --> Sparkling mineral water with a squeeze of lemon or lime. :9

French Fries --> Sweet Potato Fries w/ cajun seasoning

Pancakes w/ syrup --> Buckwheat pancakes w/ agave syrup (not really less calories than original, but easier on my GI system)

So what are some of your fave substitutions?

[justgamma]

1. Substitutes

French fries - spritz psn with olive oil spray - place a layer of cut up potatoes and spritz them. Bake in oven.

Candy bar - Kashi Dark chocolate coconut bar or Kellog's Dark chocolate almond. Both have extra fiber and vitamins.

Butter buds instead of butter on hot food. I really can't tell the difference.

[hedgehog]

2. Try poping those french fries in the micro wave for a minute or so before

you spray them with oil and put them in the conventional oven. The pre-cooking dries the surface and makes them crispier.

[Lisa0825]

3. I'm a big fan of having the treat, but only an ittybitty serving!

I used to use a lot of substitutions, but I never found them as satisfying as a tiny bit of the real thing. Or I will have that item for 2 meals, at half a serving each.

I also learned a good trick years ago... when at a restaurant, ask for a box right away, so you can box up half the meal, and stick it aside to help avoid eating the whole thing.

[ginnyinWI]

4. popcorn

make it in an air popper, and as it comes out into the bowl, spray it with cooking spray, butter flavored if you prefer. That way the salt will stick. Salt (not too much) and enjoy a nearly fat free snack.

and to go with it: Swiss Miss cocoa sweetened with Splenda.

Ice cream--I'm a real fan. But I make it low-fat ice cream and only have one half-cup scoop.

Bagels: I buy the mini-bagels and then I can eat the whole thing. It's only about 3 " across.

Tacos: ground chicken is an absolutely delicious substitute for ground beef.

Veggie patties instead of real beef patties.

Veggie Lasagna with plenty of spinach, mushrooms, garlic--and no meat.

Instead of a sandwich, have a wrap--a high-fiber, low-carb wrap instead of the bread.

[stewartcolbert08]

5. um......

Okay, when I bake I use egg beaters and splenda which literally cuts the calories in half!

If I want a candy bar, I split it w/ a friend or eat a "Curves" Chocolate/Peanut granola bar

Molly McButter on my baked potato instead of real butter

Ground turkey instead of hamburger

LOL I am sure I have more but just for starters ;-)

[AllieB]

6. My substitutes are a little different because I'm not a low-fatter and I'm celiac but:

Low-quality candy bar-->a square or two of 85% dark chocolate (Vivani is my favorite because it doesn't contain soy).

Pancakes--> Pancakes made with almond flour or some other nut flour. Agave has been shown to spike blood sugar, if you're really sensitive. I top by pancakes with pureed berries. :-)

Cola/Soda (never a fan)--> flavored selzer water with a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice and a drop of stevia (unsweetened cran. can be bitter)

French fries--> Jicama or turnip fries. Jicama is yummy and low glycemic. I also make sweet potato fries on occasion.

Popcorn--> I eat almonds, macadamias, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds. I often sautee almonds in oil, or melt a little extra virgin coconut oil and toss in sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Adding fat is way more filling and you tend not to overeat nuts and seeds like popcorn.

[stewartcolbert08]

8. I love sweet potato's

I tried making the fries once but they didnt come out as good as I'd hoped. How do you make yours?

[The empressof all]

7. Shiritaki noodles for Pasta

Shiritaki are made with Yam root, tofu or Konjac flour. They are extremely low calorie, low glycemic and low carb. They are a little tricky to work with but make a great noodle substitution for pasta in soups and stir fries. They are not a good substitute for Italian Pasta dishes. I did score some Shiritaki Lasagna sheets over the week end so I'm really curious how they'll translate into a veggie lasagna made with non fat ricotta.

I am blessed to have access to grocery stores with large Asian departments. If you are lucky. You can find them in the refrigerated section by the tofu. The ones most frequently sold in department stores are made by "House".

The noodles come packed in small plastic bags in liquid. When opened they smell rather foul. You need to rinse them well and then I soak them for a minute or two in water with a large splash of vinegar and rinse again. Then you are ready to go.

A serving is about 20 calories. I eat a bowl of faux pho every day with the noodles, chicken broth a little fish sauce and a splash of SriRacha. Sometimes I'll poach an egg in the broth if I need a protein.

I really can't tell you how much these noodles have helped me stay on my plan.