Meal Planning & Low Point Stand Ins

I have always enjoyed planning meals in order to save money.  I enjoy cooking and I like using things I have on hand to incorporate into recipes.  And while I love trying new things, I do enjoy some tried and true meals that I know my family will eat.  Being able to make their meals without changing taste for them is important.  And sometimes I'm able to make slight changes for myself while serving them the same dish I've made for years.

One of my favorite go-to foods is Spaghetti Squash.  It's versatile and while nothing like spaghetti in flavor, it's a great stand-in.  I make the same sauce for my family and myself and then I make myself a separate portion with the squash instead of pasta.  I don't feel like I'm missing out at all and best of all, the squash is 0+ points!  A little Italian chicken sausage browned and cooked with jarred pasta sauce can make a tasty 4-5+ dinner that completely satisfies me.

Another substitution I use is Tofu Shirataki noodles in place of rice for stir fry dishes.  I make the same stir fry and put it over brown rice for my husband and kids.  I warm up the noodles and use one package which is technically 2 servings but only 1+ point.  1/2 package is 0+ points!

Nonfat greek yogurt is a total favorite of mine for many dishes - and using it as a sour cream substitute is utter perfection.  It's creamy, full of protein and perfect in any potato or Mexican dish.  Nobody here even realizes the difference.

One other substitute food is egg whites - they take the place of whole eggs in any recipe and I don't even really miss the yolk.  Perfect for baked goods too!  I love egg white omelets.  We do have hens at my house so I will mix in 1 egg to 3 egg whites to equal a 2 egg scramble and it works beautifully.

PB2 is one last tasty substitute.  I know some people like it on sandwiches or toast but I prefer it's flavor and texture to add to smoothies for a filling, tasty drink.  It's low point and truly yummy.  The best thing is that it has all the protein of peanuts with a lot less fat.  Win win!

I know this list doesn't exhaust the possibilities and I'm always interested to hear more substitutions that work for people that don't want to sacrifice flavor for good health.  I'd love to hear what others are using in their meal planning!