Trying to make changes to your eating? Sometimes it’s your recipe that needs the workout. Here are some easy steps to make your favorite recipes just a touch lighter and healthier.

1. Cut back on fat. If a baked good calls for butter, oil or shortening, you can substitute half the amount with mashed banana, prunes or even applesauce. If the recipe calls for whole milk, switch to ½ % or even skim. Sour cream can be replaced with the lowfat offering, and most cheeses can be replaced with their lower fat counterparts.
2. Sugar can be replaced with any no calorie substitute of your choosing. Sometimes you may actually have to add more than the equivalence. Try some taste tests to see what works best.
3. Reduce half of the salt in most dishes without sacrificing flavors. The caveat is baked goods that call for yeast may require an exact salt amount.
4. Switch out ground turkey for ground beef, especially in casseroles, soups and chili. It not only is lower calorie, it’s cheaper too.
5. Try the least amount of oil and always use a liquid, not shortening if you can. Sprayed non-stick oil works for lots of cooking jobs like sautéing meat and vegetables.

If you are afraid to “mess” with a classic, consider serving the modified recipes first for your family. If they don’t notice or complain about the changes, you can feel confident in bringing your altered recipe to any potluck celebration.