Get the Skinny | 5 thanksgiving ingredient upgrades
When it comes to “healthifying” holiday favorites, there are the obvious recipe swaps: lighter versions of ingredients like cheese, cream cheese, and cream-based soups, along with whole grain flour, brown rice and sweet potatoes in place of their white counterparts.
But beyond that, we’ve got 6 key ingredients that you’ll want to keep on hand as part of your holiday toolkit to help expand your repertoire of better-for-you holiday fare.
EAT FIT CROSSANTS | 100% WHOLE WHEAT
Ingredients: Water, stone ground whole wheat flour, whole wheat flour, Swerve (erythritol, oligosaccharides), butter, less than 2% yeast, salt.
Per Croissant: 170 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 330 mg sodium, 177 mg potassium, 34 grams total carbohydrate, 5 grams dietary fiber, 0 sugar, 4.5 grams protein.
Upgrade dinner rolls to Eat Fit croissants by La Louisiane, with 40% fewer calories than regular croissants.
Coming soon to stores like Robert Fresh Market, these Eat Fit Croissants are currently available at Ochsner Fitness Center Café. Thanksgiving Special: $2 each, 6 for $10, and 12 for $20.
FRESH CRANBERRIES
Rich in antioxidants, ounce-for-ounce packing in more antioxidants than spinach or blueberries
Low-calorie, low-sugar: 46 calories, 12 grams of carb, and 2 grams of sugar per cup
Anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and cardo-protective benefits
See our DIY recipe for no-sugar-added homemade cranberry sauce, below
SWERVE SWEETENER – Confectioner Style, Granular or Brown
Measures cup-for-cup like sugar
Natural plant-based zero-calorie, zero-glycemic sweetener
Locally-owned New Orleans company
Use Swerve in place of sugar in cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, holiday cocktails and desserts, and more
ALMOND FLOUR
75% fewer carbs and 50% more protein than white or whole wheat flour
Almond flour can be used to replace up to a quarter of the flour in baked goods, without adjusting other ingredients
Almond flour + Swerve + little butter makes a fantastic “crumble” topping for pies and cobblers
PLAIN GREEK YOGURT – 2% Fage or Whole Chobani
The ultimate in versatile ingredients, Greek yogurt can be used as an ingredient swap for:
Mayo: Cup-for-cup ingredient swap
Sour cream: Cup-for-cup ingredient swap
Butter: Use plain, low-fat Greek yogurt in place of half the amount of butter
Heavy Cream: Use plain Greek yogurt in place of half of the heavy cream the recipe calls for
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RECIPE: DIY Cranberry Sauce
Make your own homemade cranberry sauce, with either half the sugar, or with a natural, plant-based sugar replacer in place of sugar.
Ingredients:
¾ cup Swerve Confectioners
1 cup water
1 12-ounce package cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Instructions:
Combine Swerve and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil; add cranberries, return to boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time.
Per ¼ cup: Less than 20 calories, 2 grams carbohydrate, and <1 gram sugar
To catch the full segment on WGNO.com, click here.