Easy Ways to Lighten Up Comfort Foods

Replace regular butter with light butter spread and substitute fat-free milk for whole milk to save around 80 calories and nine grams of fat per serving. Or, simply skip the butter altogether or use half the amount listed on the box. Try Kraft's 50% whole-grain variety or my favorite, Annie’s Whole-Wheat Shells and Cheddar, to cut calories and add fiber.

Use boiled, mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes or mix half-and-half cauliflower and potatoes. Substitute fat-free sour cream for whole milk and butter during preparation. If you reduce or eliminate butter during prep, top with Butter Buds or spray butter instead of adding a pat of butter to each serving. To add flavor, pour in a small amount of buttermilk while mashing or mix in some roasted garlic.

Use reduced-fat or fat-free sliced cheese (You may find reduced-fat melts better than fat-free.). Spray bread with butter-flavored canola cooking spray instead of coating with margarine or butter. If the sandwich is too dry without a condiment, try a fat-free spread such as spicy brown mustard or a small amount of reduced-fat mayo instead of regular mayo, which packs in 100 calories per tablespoon. Grill on a non-stick frying pan sprayed with cooking spray rather than greasing a regular pan.

Remove the chicken's skin using thick paper towels and cut away visible fat with kitchen shears. Roll pieces in a mixture of crushed cereal (corn flakes or whole-wheat flakes) and your choice of seasonings, and spritz both sides of each piece with vegetable oil spray. Bake on a non-stick baking sheet at 350 F until golden brown on the outside and no pink is left in the center. Check out the About.com Busy Cooks Guide's Oven Fried Chicken Recipe.

Replace up to half of the butter or shortening called for in the recipe with fat-free cream cheese. Or, consider using whole-wheat flour instead of white flour (Doing so may noticeably change the flavor, so try different chips such as replacing semisweet with bittersweet until the flavor suits you.). If you prefer all-purpose flour, check out the About.com Cooking for Kids Guide's healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe which incorporates bran flakes and oats.