Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Dips, sips and desserts

Party dips, smoothies and dessert are all a dieters’ nightmare. You can forget about enjoying yourself while tailgating or watching football at home, vacationing on the beach, or attending any dessert infested occasion, right?


Runners World Magazine has some great tips on how to lighten up your favorites, and enjoy what your friends do.

Start smart-
There’s more to a milkshake than ice cream, and more to dips than loads of sour cream. Think about substituting the following in your dips, smoothies or shakes:

blended beans, roasted peppers, eggplant
soft tofu or tofu yogurt
low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese, cream cheese, or plain Greek-style yogurt

(from Runners World)

Additions-
Add to the taste and incorporate some nutrients by adding in flavorful twists:

fresh herbs
fresh garlic and green onion
lime or lemon juice
fresh or dried hot peppers
(from Runners World)

Lose the cracker-
Forget about chips and crackers to go with your dip. Think about healthier alternatives like fresh vegetables, fruits, or whole-wheat home made baked pita chips.

These tricks allow you to have more control over your snacking and take part in traditions.