American cuisine may not be known for being healthful, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite American meals. With a little bit of effort and imagination, you can indulge in your favorite treats, such as pizza, hamburgers, and even milkshakes–without a side serving of guilt!
American Cuisine: Pizza
Pizza is one of the most popular foods in America. To make pizza healthier, replace the wheat base with a cauliflower base. Don’t worry; your pizza won’t taste like cauliflower! Grate 2 cups of cauliflower into a bowl and add 2 beaten eggs. Add 1 cup of shredded cheese and mix it all together. Spread the “dough” onto a round baking tray and bake until the top is golden. You can also make a spicier base by adding garlic, onion, and chili powder to the mix before baking. If you really love the texture of regular pizza dough, you can add a ¼ cup of almond flour or freshly ground flax meal. This will provide the dough-like texture to your pizza, while still keeping the calories down and the nutrition up. After baking the base in the oven for approximately 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, finish by adding toppings, such as grilled chicken, bell peppers, and cheese.
American Cuisine: Hamburgers
The official smell of summer in America comes from the barbecue. The hero of the barbecue is the hamburger. To enjoy hamburgers without seeing evidence of them on your waistline, use ground turkey instead of beef. Ditch the bun altogether, since store-bought hamburger buns are loaded with sugar and preservatives. You can top the burger with your favorite toppings and eat it bun-free on a plate, or you can wrap it up in a lettuce leaf. If buns are must-haves for your burgers, you can make your own low-carb bun. To make 2 rolls, take 1 egg and separate the white from the yolk. Combine the egg yolk with a ¼ cup of cream cheese. In a separate bowl, whip the egg white with a dash of cream of tartar until it forms stiff peaks. Gently fold the mixtures together, divide into equal portions, and place on a non-stick baking tray. Bake the rolls for around 30 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow them to cool and use them to create great tasting, low-carb hamburgers.
Milkshakes are great treats, but between the milk and the ice cream, they have an abundance of dairy and sugar but hardly any vitamins. To enjoy a more healthful version of this creamy dessert, put 2 cups of milk or milk replacement (such as soy, almond, or hazelnut milk) in a blender. Toss in 1 frozen, peeled banana and a generous handful of spinach. The frozen banana provides sweetness and also thickens the shake. The spinach won’t even be discernible in the finished shake, but it adds much-needed vitamins to an otherwise nutritiously lacking treat. For a chocolate milkshake, add 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. For strawberry, use a ½ cup of frozen strawberries. For vanilla, a scoop of vanilla protein powder works great. If you prefer a thicker shake, add a few ice cubes. Blend well and enjoy a healthful and delicious frosty milkshake.
Pizza, hamburgers, and milkshakes can all be consumed in moderation, but if you feel like you’re over-indulging, tweaking the original recipes just a bit is the answer to your problems. These variations will allow you to enjoy your favorite American cuisine without sacrificing flavor or your health.
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