When you think of Mardi Gras, you probably imagine streets filled with costumed revelers and Creole music, with plenty of drinking and bead throwing—but another main player in this delightfully decadent holiday is the food. Fat Tuesday came by its name honestly: The celebration is deeply rooted in regional cuisine, giving party-goers one last chance to indulge their culinary cravings before Lent begins. If you're trying to lose weight or adopt a healthier lifestyle, standard New Orleans fare—much of which is fried, drizzled, sugared, cheese-filled or all of the above—is likely to crush your daily calorie quotas. Fortunately, there are lighter versions of popular Mardi Gras dishes, allowing you to enjoy all the flavor of classic Southern dishes without the excess. King Cake For a truly majestic Mardi Gras, a King Cake is a must. Baked in honor of the three kings, the sweet confection is served at the Feast of the Epiphany or the Twelfth Night, which is 12 days after Christmas. Each cake serves up a special surprise: a tiny baby baked into the middle. According to custom, the lucky reveler who gets the baby-bearing slice is tasked with hosting the next King Cake party. Unfortunately, the baby is the only low-calorie part of most King Cakes. Braided Danish dough is shaped into a ring and then topped with glaze, cinnamon and colored sugar, usually in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. For an even more decadent dessert, some cakes are filled with custard, cream cheese or fruit. Smarter Version: For a less sinful treat that's still royally delicious, try this Healthier King Cake. It cuts calories by substituting reduced-fat dough, reduced-fat cream cheese and skim milk. Each slice contains just 160 calories and less than 6 grams of fat. Jambalaya Throw together meat, rice, stock, spices and veggies, and you have NOLA's trademark dish. Whether you prefer it Creole-style or Cajun-style, this versatile stew is a melting pot of Southern flavors. Before grabbing that spoon, keep in mind that the medley of meats—typically sausage, seafood, chicken or all of the above—can send the dish's fat content skyrocketing. Smarter Version: This Cajun Light Jambalaya packs all the flavor of this favorite Carnival dish with half the fat. Turkey sausage and lean chicken breast strips take center stage, flavored by fresh veggies and sodium-free seasoning. Funnel Cakes Dough is a staple of Mardi Gras, and when it comes to Southern sweets, you can't beat the sugary goodness of a funnel cake. The only drawback? The dough's batter is deep-fried and then sprinkled with powdered sugar and/or cinnamon—not exactly a recipe for healthy snacking. In fact, it would take more than three hours to walk off the calorie consumption. Smarter Version: Cheat without cheating when you prepare a healthy alternative to a childhood carnival favorite. This Whole Wheat Funnel Cake will only cost you a little over 180 calories and less than 5 grams of fat per serving. Gumbo It wouldn't be Mardi Gras without the official cuisine of the state of Louisiana. While jambalaya is more of a stew, gumbo lands somewhere near the soup category. It also contains meats (such as sausage, ham, chicken or shrimp), veggies and stock, but it's typically served with rice on the side. Smarter Version: Your search for guilt-free gumbo is over. In this healthy Seafood and Sausage Gumbo recipe, low-fat meats are mixed with whole-wheat flour, fresh veggies and seasoning to create a delicious stew that's surprisingly healthy. Fried Chicken Here's yet another fried dish along the Carnival route—are you sensing a theme? Indeed, fried chicken is a Fat Tuesday staple…but for those who want to be healthy on Wednesday, it's probably best to modify this high-fat indulgence. Smarter Version: You'll enjoy all the crunch with a fraction of the fat when you prepare Megan's Pan-Fried Chicken. This dish relies on herbs and spices for its Southern flavor. Sweet Bourbon Bread Pudding Bread pudding is a little (or not-so-little) slice of Southern heaven—but the combination of plentiful sugar, bread and drizzled caramel sauce takes this French quarter confection way out of the running for healthy desserts. Smarter Versions: With our low-fat bread pudding recipes, you can enjoy this timeless comfort food without stretching out of your calorie zone. Mardi Gras isn't exactly known for moderation—but if you're celebrating at home, you don't have to succumb to parade route temptations. By creating smarter versions of popular New Orleans-style meals, you can enjoy all the fun flavors of Fat Tuesday without living up to the name. What are your favorite smart, yet scrumptious, Southern-style dishes? |
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