When growing up with my family, my mom always did the cooking and made desserts for the kids frequently. I always have loved desserts, but didn’t realize how bad some of them could be until I was around ten. This was the time I was taking health and realizing how fats, carbs, proteins and other important foods came together in a daily lifestyle. I knew I should try to strive for that healthy lifestyle, but who doesn’t like desserts? Come on… So, I continued to bake for fun, but put a different twist onto everything to make it healthier.

So now when I make desserts that require oil, such as brownies or cakes, I do not use the oil, due to all the high fats and other ingredients, but instead use applesauce. This still makes the brownies or cakes taste very good, and also keeps the moisture in them, just like the oil would do. It also does not dry the cakes or brownies out. When using the applesauce, it reduces the amount of fats by a lot, which helps in being able to eat that dessert every once in a while.

Also for a healthier twist, you can add the powdered egg whites with the applesauce. The powdered egg whites can be bought at any grocery store, like Giant Eagle, and are only a few dollars. Besides the fact that they last for practically forever (for those who don’t eat eggs that often), they are also only 10 calories per egg white. When you want to use these for baking, you add them to warm water and let them sit for a little while before adding them to the mix.

I know you are thinking it is easier to just use the eggs and oil, but it really isn’t. The powdered egg whites last longer, and applesauce doesn’t expire that quickly either. By using these two subsitutions, you can enjoy desserts a lot heathier and don’t feel so bad everytime you bite into that rich, moist brownie for dessert.

Good luck experimenting with these new alternatives….