Hey guys! It’s the final week of of Instant Skinny Swaps! I’ve had so much fun partnering with Kroger and a few of my favorite bloggers on their “1 Little Victory” campaign this month. Check out Week 1 and Week 2 here.
For my final post, I’ll be sharing 4 of my favorite easy weeknight dinners made healthier with one simple ingredient swap. One small change is one little victory towards healthy eating.
And because ya’ll have been so awesome this month, I’m throwing in one of my all time favorite desserts at the end that you’ll never even know was made healthier! :) You can find all these healthy ingredients at your local Kroger affiliate store.
This is an old post, but it’s still to this day one of our all-time favorite quick and easy dinners. I make it all the time! We’re probably going to have it tonight in fact, lol! I make it healthier by cutting back a bit on the olive oil (I use 1-2 tablespoons), using turkey smoked sausage (for half the fat and calories, and you literally cannot tell a difference in the taste AT ALL — I’ve been making it with turkey sausage for years and I will never go back!) and you can also use brown rice instead of white rice for some extra whole grains.
Another one of our favs! I can’t say enough good things about this grilled chicken and tomato sauce. All the chicken needs is a little seasoning. To make this healthier, you can totally use fat-free half and half instead of heavy cream in the sauce. It’ll be a little thinner, and not as “pretty” (so I wouldn’t serve it to company this way) but it will still taste just as good and I would TOTALLY make it for just us this way!! :) You can also replace the white pasta with fun and colorful veggie pasta!
This is another one of our favorite dinners where veggie pasta would shine! This creamy white sauce is to die for!
This was one of my very, very first recipes I ever posted, so it doesn’t get a lot of attention and the photo is not all that great, but you guys. I cannot even begin to tell you how AWESOME and flavorful this pasta is!!! Oh. My. Word. It is 1000% worth making. Better than anything I’ve ever had at a restaurant, hands down!! Definitely make this with a fun and colorful veggie pasta!!
The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever
To celebrate the final Instant Skinny Swap, I made you cake! :) You guys know the applesauce trick right? You can replace the oil in cakes, muffins, and quick breads (like banana bread) with an equal amount of APPLESAUCE to majorly reduce the fat and calories! You will never even know the difference. The cake and breads still come out impossibly moist and decadently dreamy. Give it a try next time you’re baking! :)
The Giveaway
To celebrate Little Victories, Kroger is giving away 3 HUGE prizes to help you stay on track in the new year.
1 Grand Prize Winner will receive (ARV: $1,500)
- $1,000 Kroger gift card
- $500 in kitchen products including:
- $250 Kitchen Aid Mixer
- $50 Magic Bullet
- $200 in cookware (i.e., pots and pans)
2 runner-up winners will receive $500 Kroger Gift Cards (Good at any Kroger affiliate store like Fred Meyer, Smith’s, etc)
How to Enter
Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.
If you don’t see the widget above, you can also enter here and here.
Good luck! What’s your favorite Instant Skinny Swap?
Trying to eat less junk food. Great giveaway!
Great contest, would love a new KitchenAid! Thanks!!
Great contest, thanks for the chance!!
Can’t wait to try all these awesome recipes!!!
Love this post.
I am eating fruit and veggies as the biggest portion for all meals. It used to be carbs.
I cut up some extra fruit to have with dinner! Hubby loved it too! Win win!
I split my lunch in half and eat one half at noon and the next at 2:30. This prevents me from snacking all day. Great post. Love reading the victories of others.
Can’t wait to try these recipes :)
Thank you for this awesome giveaway. You’re too sweet. :)
I love all the simple & quick dinner ideas. Thank you K & A!
These recipes look delicious!
I can’t wait to try out some of these recipes!
My little victory for the day is committing to trying some of these swaps…and pulling out my homework first thing this morning!
I’ve never cooked before…. for the first time ever I’m excited to learn how to cook!!! I’m inspired… I’m taking baby steps… maybe skipping…. but man…. it’s a whole new world fun of and I’m giddy about it!!!
No tears at daycare drop off today!!
Can’t wait to try some of these recipes!
Making that cake this weekend !
I’d love to make the Garlic Chicken Pasta.
Instead of trying to set aside thirty minutes for exercise, during the day, I left free weights at the end of our bed and I did two reps of ten everytime I passed them, on my way to the bathroom, making for easy exercise and finishing the goal I set for myself before lunch!
Great post!
I love all of the recipes! I love the new simple truth section of Kroger! I could make a lot of health dinners with that gift card. Have a great day!
Had a nutritious green smoothie this morning!
Oatmeal for breakfast and cucumber and cheese for lunch~!
That chocolate cake looks diviiiine
I can’t wait to try the red beans and rice with the applesauce-swap chocolate cake! What a great contest! Thank you for the opportunities!
I like to mix greek yogurt with a tiny bit of liquid stevia instead of buying the sweetened kind in the store. That way I can control the sweetness, and add in anything I want for different flavors. :)
Everything looks really yummy! And applesauce works great!
My favorite would have to be the applesauce in the cake!
I love the applesauce swapand will def use it, off to exercise!
My favorite “skinny” swap is using spaghetti squash instead of pasta!
My little victory is that I completed everything on my to-do list for today!
Love all the swaps, especially the veggie pastas. can’t wait to try some!
Always looking for delicious new recipes
I love the applesauce swap! Just made a chocolate banana bread using applesauce. DELICIOUS!!
Today’s little victory is getting Thesis revisions done! Yay!
Eating healthy these days but that Chocolate Cake looks amazing.
Trying to get healthy and make better food choices. I will be moving to the US in just short 6 weeks (getting married – yay) and have realized that eating healthy is a lot more expensive in the states than in Germany – but i am determined for my health in my wedding dress :)
Greek Yogurt in place of sour cream. It also makes a nice little dessert with honey and slivered almonds on top.
I have been using light sour cream for years in place of the regular stuff. My family doesn’t even miss it! I also started using 2% Milk Velveeta for recipes and no one even noticed.
I’ve been drinking more water in the new year; instead of reaching for a snack.
This would be fabulous. Thanks!
I love the inspirational victories talks! I need to drink more water. I can’t wait to try your cake!!!
I declined the donuts in the break room!
Everything looks so good!
Love chicken. Recipes
Today I ate a healthy breakfast instead of grabbing a baked good from the coffee shop.
I woke up before my alarm and got out of bed. ;)
Great recipes! Can’t wait to try the healthy tricks.
I use the apple sauce substitute all the time love it.
I love the applesauce substitute! I also find using sauerkraut in cakes works really well. I’d love to be a winner!
I have used turkey sausage as a substitute for pork sausage for years. I can’t tell the difference! We also use ground turkey instead of beef. I can’t wait to try the applesauce substitute! Fingers crossed for the win!
Love the pasta dishes and red beans and rice is a family fav!
Thanks for the great giveaway.
I really wanted to eat something unhealthy tonight because I was starving. Instead I waited until I got home (not stopping at a taco joint) and had a baked sweet potato (which was delicious and satisfying!).
that chocolate cake looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!!! And for making cooking look so easy!
We really enjoy the red beans and rice recipe! Will definitely have to try the subs you suggested!
cauliflower instead of rice
My little victory today was drinking lots of water every time I wanted to reach for something chocolate. It definitely worked! Can’t wait to try these modifications. Every recipe of yours I’ve tried has been fantastic!
Garlic Chicken Pasta for sure!
Can’t wait to give these recipes a try!
The chocolate cake is speaking to me.
Can’t wait to try the chocolate cake
I will DEFINITELY have to try the applesauce trick. I’ve heard about it countless times but I never remember it while I’m actually making a cake.
Love these suggestions! I tend to be very “one track minded” when I follow recipes so I don’t deviate from what is on the card. These swaps will be so easy to incorporate into my routine :)
I love your suggestion of substituting applesauce for oil in some recipes! I will definitely have to try this the next time I bake. My victory is drinking more water and really watching my sugar intake.
LOVE the Garlic Chicken Pasta! It’s one of our family favorites! And my victory is drinking more water!
I can’t wait to try the garlic chicken pasta! My little victory will be using whole wheat pasta.
Love your recipes!!!
Chocolate banana smoothies= day made!
I have loved all of your recipes that I’ve tried!
My victory is staying away from potato chips- my big downfall! And I’m drinking flavored water with 0 calories.
love the turkey sausage substitute…
That cake is giving me goosebumps! Delish!!
These all look amazing
Thank you for this awesome opportunity!
Can’t wait to try the chocolate cake recipe!! Love the sausage one!
OMGoodness… this is beyond awesome/amazing guys!! Thanks so much for the sweet chance!
My little victory is is pretty teeny, but hey… even though I usually skip breakfast, I’ve been eating something healthy. Today I had an orange on the way to work… I find I’m not snacking on something naughty before lunchtime!
Gotta be the chocolate cake. As an admitted, unashamed chocoholic, I’m always looking for ways to indulge without all the guilt! :)
Ok I am in Calif and we dont have Krogers. Our markets dont carry “red beans”. Do I use
kidney beans????? I am stumped and want to make the red beans and rice tonite~~
I started my day with a healthy breakfast taco made with beans, brown rice, avocado, and corn tortillas. Mmm.