Healthy Baking Is as Easy as Pie

The holidays can be a tough time to stick to healthy eating goals. But if your traditions involve baking, a few simple ingredient changes can help you cut some of the sugar, fat, and calories – without sacrificing the taste. This year, make some new baking traditions by adapting your family recipes with these tips:

• Substitute whole-wheat flour for up to half of the white flour called for in the recipe.
• Make muffins using oatmeal, bran, or whole-wheat flour.
• Reduce the fat by ¼ (if a recipe calls for 1 cup of oil, use ¾ cup). You can also reduce the sugar by ¼.
• If making sweet breads, such as banana bread or zucchini bread, cut the oil in half and replace with an equal amount of applesauce, mashed banana, or even canned pumpkin.
• If a recipe calls for nuts, use half the amount and toast the nuts (whole, not chopped). This intensifies the flavor and saves on calories.
• Replace half the eggs with egg whites, using 2 egg whites per egg. (If a recipe calls for 2 eggs, use 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites.)
• Grease the pan with non-stick spray instead of butter.
• Substitute evaporated skim milk for whole milk or cream.

Learn more from the American Cancer Society about healthy eating, including tips and recipes.