Frying vs. Baking: Can you cut the fat and keep the taste?

There are many different foods that people have grown up eating fried. Some examples are french fries, perogies, and chicken cutlets.

To cut down on the fat, try spraying these items with olive oil cooking spray and bake them instead. A favorite in our house is "oven fries". Using a knife or a mandolin, slice a potato into thin circles or half circles. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange potatoes in a single layer, spray tops and season again with pepper (no need for more salt). Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes, depending on how crispy you like them. They taste like homemade potato chips, but with enough character that they can serve as a side dish with steak or chicken.

Another idea is to prepare chicken cutlets as you would to do the normal italian seasoned fry, but place in an oven instead. You can top them with things like low sodium ham and lowfat swiss to make a cordon bleu. Serve with a side of lowfat honey mustard sauce made by combining light mayo, honey, spicy brown mustard and tarragon (preferably fresh). Delicious and not as guilt ridden as the fried variety!

Perogies and kielbasa with sauerkraut is a meal I grew up eating. These days, this does not have to be the fatty meal is used to be. The new variety of turkey kielbasa made by Hillshire Farms has 5 grams of fat per serving and 90 calories compared to the beef variety that has 16 grams of far and 190 calories per serving. Choosing a perogie variety does not matter much as they all have around the same amount of fat and calories per serving. However, by preparing them in the oven, you get a crunchy outside with a smooth potato inside, rather then a greasy pocket inside and out by frying or sauteing them in butter and onions. Not the healthiest meal all around but if you need your polish fix there are healthier ways to enjoy this traditional meal!

Most of the time, anything fried if full of fat and many like that flavor. But if you are looking to cut some fat and cholesterol out, these few ideas may help!