So a lot of my favorite foods I cannot eat right now due to my pregnancy. I thought I could handle the 9 months of 'favorites fasting' until someone told me that it continues through nursing! That's when I knew I needed to find a way to get the favorites and still keep me and my child healthy!

Here's my latest discovery: YOGURT

Apparently, plain yogurt can be a great substitution for mayonnaise. In case you were wondering, mayonnaise is often made with raw egg and is also high in fat and calories. Both of which aren't good for the pregnant lady -- especially the raw egg feature. Plus, many people don't like the taste of mayo; something about the grease, texture, taste, fat content...

But how do you then make those wonderful pasta salads, potato salads, creamy dips, etc?! Enter the yogurt substitution...

Now, I'm generally scared of the plain yogurt. It has NO flavor. I believe in adding things that will enhance flavor and not just the look and consistency of food. But I've found that lemon or vanilla yogurt can work well in some food substitutions as well since most yogurts are subtle with their lemon and vanilla flavors. The lemon gives it a nice hint of citrus and vanilla is soothing mellow contribution to the dish -- both are nice "surprises" in a traditional dish. I'm still use plain yogurt in some recipes because well, lemon or vanilla can't be used in EVERYTHING.

My recent discovery has led to the return of the SPINACH DIP! Once loaded in chemicals (if bought on the shelf) or made with mayo (if bought 'fresh'), now contains fresh/frozen ingredients that are yummy and becoming a new favorite. Check it out... (fyi -- I used plain yogurt and herb packet once and will be using lemon yogurt and dill seasoning packet next; both yum!)

So next time a recipe calls for mayo, give yogurt a try. A pregnant lady or fussy-eater just might thank you! Your waist-line definitely will.

Labels: Variations