Now is the time for holiday baking! There are parties to bake for as well as for cookie swaps, gifts, and family gatherings. We find great recipes in our cookbooks and on the internet; most require lots of butter, sugar, and other “niceties.” In my book, Goodbye Fatness, Hello Gorgeous!, I discuss recipe renovations. I do not want to repeat the chapter here, but instead will give you a variety of options that you can use in conjunction with the book if you please.
Before we get down to baking, brush your teeth! A clean mouth may prevent you from cleaning up on those cookies and the ingredients that go into them. The old me used to snack on chocolate chips, nuts, and even the cookie dough while preparing my creations. So do brush your teeth! Most people do not feel like eating sweets after brushing. Therefore, nuts, chocolate chips, or cookie dough will not be a temptation and you can bake without putting on the pounds!
Really take a look at your ingredients and see what you are working with. First, begin by cutting the amount of butter/margarine by half. You will not miss it, believe me! I would also cut the amount of sugar by half, especially if it is a chocolate chip cookie recipe. Let’s examine typical ingredients found in this kind of cookie. Chocolate chips have lots of sugar content. There is also the brown sugar and regular sugar. Too much sugar! Therefore, cut the amount of regular sugar in half.
Make the cookies smaller than usual. This will mean fewer calories and fat per serving. Some may argue that the smaller the cookie, the more dried out and crumbly it will be. To combat this, bake your cookies on the middle rack of the oven and turn the baking temperature down. For instance, if the baking temperature is 375 degrees, bake at 350 degrees instead to avoid poor textured cookies. Placing a pan full of water on the bottom rack of the oven, just underneath the cookie baking pan, will help as well. Make sure there is enough water in the pan throughout the baking process. A tablespoon or two of Greek Yogurt will help keep the cookies moist. Though yogurt is typically sour in taste, it will not come out as such in a recipe if used in smaller, less overwhelming amounts. Depending on the recipe, apple sauce is also a great addition to also help keep cookies moist. Experiment on your own and don’t be afraid to venture out. Become your own cookie chemist! Then enjoy with fewer calories and fat added on!
Lori wants to be the "Dear Abby" of advice for obstacles that cause overeating. She wants to give confidence to those who were/are put down in their lives and want to grow a positive spirit. Lori is determined to show the world that weight loss can be done by an average person and that perseverance can be achieved, regardless of what naysayers say or do. Her book, Goodbye Fatness, Hello Gorgeous! shows struggles as a result of being overweight, and divulges tips/tricks on how to overcome healthy eating obstacles. So feel free to comment, ask a question. Lori wants to take the journey with you to help motivation increase while the weight decreases!
