French fries are one of my favourite foods. So anytime I can make them the star of my meal (and not just a side dish), count me in!
So as you may expect, poutine is one of my faves. I don’t indulge in it too often (hello, heavy on fat and sugar) but I make it at home sometimes as a super quick meal, and I’ve now started to make it a little bit healthier. I think next time I have some girlfriends over to watch a chick flick or just catch up, it’s super simple to make so I’m not tied up cooking something super labour-intensive.
I used McCain Superfries here, and for the gravy, I followed this healthy, low-salt recipe for mushroom gravy from Cooking Light. Mushrooms are a source of vitamin D and are low in calories, and they’re one of my favourite veggies, so I love topping the fries with a pile of earthy, yummy mushrooms. The gravy is super simple to make and mostly just calls for a bit of chopping and then it simmers so really this can be thrown together super easily. For cheese, I suppose you could go with a skim milk mozzarella if you really want to go lighter, but I chose to go with cheese curds.
Enjoy! Let me know if you have favourite French fry meals where it takes centre stage. Check out other Modifry™ recipes here!
Disclosure: This post was brought to you by McCain Foods Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of McCain Foods Canada.
October 11, 2015
I’ve had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at a pasta factory and a cheese factor–both in Italy–an ice cream factory in Texas, and most recently, I visited Nestlé Canada’s test kitchen in Toronto, where I learned how the company is focused on improving the health of Canadians.
“In 2012 we made a commitment that by the end of 2014, if we had children’s products that no longer met, or that couldn’t be made to meet, our Nutrition Foundation criteria, which are based on guidance set out by the World Health Organization and the Institute of Medicine, we would no longer sell them,” explains Kate Cole, a Registered Dietitian and Manager, Nutrition Health & Wellness for Nestlé Canada.
This initiative has impacted 33 products–including top-sellers Smarties, Nesquik,and Nestlé Ice Creams–that needed to be reformulated, re-proportioned, or discontinued. Thirty-three products; that’s no small challenge. Take for example Smarties, which originally came in a 50 gram package containing 33 grams of sugar. To meet Nestlé’s new commitment, sugar had to be slashed to 11 grams per serving. The answer? Portion control.
“The new packaging comes with three separate portion-controlled sections that contain 15 Smarties in each with a total of 11 grams of sugar,” explains Cole. “This way kids (and moms) can enjoy in smaller amounts.” (If you’re wondering about the candy’s colouring, the company took out artificial colouring in Smarties in 2009, which is why you may have noticed the hues are more muted than before.) But what didn’t make the cut? The Smarties King Bar. Even though it made the company money, Nestlé Canada discontinued the product.
Nesquik , which comes in either a powder or a liquid formulation, was another product they had to tweak to have it meet the Nutrition Foundation criteria. While there was already an Original and a 1/3 Less Sugar version of Nesquik on the market, both needed a sugar overhaul. However, the Original powder version couldn’t be reduced in sugar without a big impact on taste. As a result, it was discontinued. Today only the 1/3 Less Sugar powder and both versions of the syrup are available. The 1/3 Less Sugar syrup has been reduced from 12 grams of sugar to 8 grams per serving, while the original syrup now meets the 11 grams per serving maximum dictated in the Nutritional Foundation criteria.
And if you’re wondering how these changes impact taste, during my visit I did a Nesquik taste test, and I could not detect a difference. Both fulfilled that chocolate-y taste I know well since it’s a product I grew up enjoying.
It’s not just food products that appeal to kids that are getting a makeover worthy of a reality-show reveal (don’t you just love TV makeovers?). “We are also reducing our sodium, sugar, and saturated fat in all of our products that don’t meet our nutrition criteria,” says Cole. In 2013 the company began reducing sodium in its frozen pizzas. To date, the company has reduced levels by 7 percent and they are on target to reach a 10 percent reduction by the end of 2016. (In a consumer comparison against its competitors, the reduced-sodium pizza offerings have continually won for taste preference.) Similar changes are being made to reduce saturated fat in Nestlé pizzas and ice cream.
The company’s plans to be a leader in health, nutrition and wellness in Canada encompasses not just food products, but also extends to Nestlé’s employees (who benefit from nutrition training and discounted fitness memberships–which I wish all companies would offer their staff; it can only benefit your company if your employees are healthy and active!). Nestle also works with their suppliers (through investment in sustainable raw materials such as cocoa), and on the environment (by reducing the company’s waste and transportation-related emissions).
“Our concept of business is to bring value absolutely and unapologetically to our shareholders, because we are here to make a profit,” says Catherine O’Brien, VP Corporate Affairs. “But at the same time we have to bring value to society. If those two things don’t go hand in hand it’s not something we are interested in pursuing.”
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June 24, 2015
So Weight Watchers 24/7 Chat has been helpful with suggestions for healthier snacking options when I’ve got the craving for chips. Remember how coaches Donna and Rosie chatted with me and helped out with some tips for eating out and snacking at night?
I’ve been using the Weight Watchers site to get inspiration for meals, too. I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately where I’m not in the mood for,well, anything, it seems when it comes to food. Just nothing that comes to mind that’s appealing that I want to cook, maybe it’s the transition of seasons? This happens a few times a year, and I always find myself poring through cookbooks and websites looking for flavours that are different than what I usually have. I’m also always looking for new ways to eat more veggies (and most veggies are 0 points on the Weight Watchers system) so the site’s provided healthy inspiration for that, too.
One of my favourite recipes I’ve found on the Weight Watchers site is this Malaysian shrimp salad recipe. It’s just a bowl full of bright and happy freshness. The zing of the lime and the tropical mango will make you feel like you’re eating this vibrant salad on a gorgeous beach. Bonus: this salad comes together super quickly and easily.
I substituted a jalapeno for the hot green chili pepper and left the shrimp whole (I just prefer them that way). Want to try this recipe (which is 5 points, btw)? You can get the Weight Watchers Malaysian shrimp salad recipe here.
Bon appetit!
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May 13, 2015
