How About a Recipe Makeover?
So, in my weight loss journey, there are many tips and tricks! One of them is taking an existing recipe and trying to figure out how you can make it healthier.
It helps when you look at the nutritional value…so, for this example, I’m going to makeover Betty Crocker’s Bacon-Cheese Pull-Aparts. Don’t they look delish?
Now, this makes 8 servings. Here’s the ingredients:
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers refrigerated original biscuits
1 package (2.2 oz) precooked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz)
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (4 medium)
And here are the ingredients with their Weight Watchers Points Plus values, as is:
1 egg = 2 PP
2 tablespoons milk = (whole) .5 PP
1 can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers refrigerated original biscuits = 5 PP per biscuit (8 biscuits per can), so 40 PP total
1 package (2.2 oz) precooked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces = 5 PP per 2-slice serving (6 servings per package), so 30 PP total
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz) = 9 PP
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (4 medium) = 0 PP (cuz it’s a veggie!)
So, the total for the entire recipe = 101.6 PP or about 13 PP per serving!!!
Now we swap some of the ingredients for slightly healthier alternatives (and their points values)…
1 egg = 1/4 cup egg substitute = 1.25 PP
2 tablespoons milk = 2 tablespoons skim milk = .25 PP
1 can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers refrigerated original biscuits, Reduced Fat = 5 PP per biscuit (8 biscuits per can), so 40 PP total
2.2 oz. precooked turkey bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces = 2 PP per 2-slice serving (6 servings per package), so 12 PP total
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz) = 3/4 cup fat free shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz) = 3 PP
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (4 medium) = 0 PP (cuz it’s still a veggie!)
So, the total for the entire recipe = 56.5 PP or 8 PP per serving.
There ya’ go! Saved you 5 points per serving on this recipe alone! Now, imagine how many points (health/nutrition) you can save by making some simple swaps like this in all your recipes! Let me know what you’re swapping!