Most people are trying to watch there food intake having enjoyed over indulgence over the holiday period. Below are a few hints and suggestions for meals to tempt your palate whilst watching the calories:
Risotto – follow your recipe, leaving out half the butter and any wine – replace the wine with stock.
Pasta dishes with cheese – experiment by using less cheese. Try using a stronger cheese or just leave some out.
Mash – try making this without adding any butter or milk. Use a good flavoursome potato (maris piper or king edward).
Pastry – if you are having a pastry topped pie for dinner either leave out the potatoes, or have less.
Meat – chicken has the fewest calories.
Thai and Japanese recipes are generally healthy and relatively low in calories.
Puddings – if you have a pudding every day, replace it with a piece of fruit on alternative days. Avoid adding extra cream, creme fraiche, ice-cream or yoghurt.
Portion size – instead of avoiding the foods you like, try eating a bit less and eating a bit slower.
Drinks – alcohol is empty calories, try having a break from alcohol, or cut down by at least half. Cans, fruit juices, squash, cordials and flavoured waters all have calories – try drinking tap water, you can flavour it by putting a fresh sprig of mint and a slice of orange/lemon/lime in a jug in the fridge. Lattes and cappuccino’s have extra calories, try drinking your coffee black or with a splash of hot/cold milk.
Exercise – not a food, but direct correlation to weight and calorie gain/loss
Apologies for the invitable new year ramble about eating less, but I feel to avoid it would be to shun what is on most of our minds.