Taking the time to do the math!

I'm sure that lots of you are aware of substituting applesauce in your baking for the oil/shortening, that's a pretty publicized substitution, but what about cooking, you cannot put applesauce on your grilled cheese skillet!

According to weight watchers, 1 teaspoon of butter is worth 1 point or 52 calories.  However, you probably need at least a tablespoon for a grilled cheese, if not more.  1 slice of american cheese is worth 3 points or 156 calories- most people put about 3 slices, 468 calories, we haven't even added in the bread yet!  If you use a good wheat bread, it's generally about 1 point a piece.  So, let's say to make your grilled cheese you have 3 slices of american cheese, 2 slices of bread, and ere on the side of caution and say 2 tbsp. butter- that equals 13 points on a weight watchers scale, roughly 676 calories.  Most adults' caloric in-take is based on a 2000 calorie per day diet, and you have used up more than 25% of that daily in-take on 1 sandwich; that is before you add chips, fries, or whatever you put on the side, or before you dip it in anything- I know some of you are dippers!  Not to mention, that's if you only eat one and if you don't eat a piece or two of cheese while you're cooking!)

Now, how can we lighten it up?  If you substitute Brummel and Brown, a delicious butter substitute, that actually still tastes as good, but for only 45 calories per table spoon (not teaspoon!)- if you were paying attention earlier, that is less than 1 point per serving ( but we still call it one when we count points!)  The low-fat or diet breads can be as low as 2 slices for 1 point if you take the time to read the labels and choose the right one!  SO, already, if we use the same numbers as above, 2 tbsp. of Brummel and Brown = 2 points, slices of low-fat/diet bread= 1 point, that's 156 calories and all we have to add is the cheese!  If you still use the regular cheese, you've still reduced the caloric in-take considerably!  However, if you use 3 slices of low-fat cheese, you're at only 2 points per slice; if you can bring yourself to give the non-fat cheese a try, that's only 1 point per slice!  So, let's do the math:

Brummel & Brown+Diet Bread+Regular Cheese= 12 points, 624 calories, not too different from the full fat.

Brummel & Brown+Diet Bread+Low-Fat Cheese= 9 points, 468 calories, a much bigger calorie reduction

Brummel & Brown+Diet Bread+Fat-Free Cheese= 6 points, or 312 calories, less than 1/2 of the calories from the full fat version.

And there you have a healthier version of a yummy comfort food that you can enjoy with a soup, a salad, or even some baked sweet potato fries and even go back for seconds!