Low-calorie Replacement Recipes for Google’s Top 5 Calorie Searches of the year

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Mixing cinnamon graham crumbles with steamed milk and sweet cream for a toasty beverage is about as perfect for a snowy morning as it can get.

It’s certainly delicious enough that it landed the No. 1 spot on Google’s Top 5 Calories Searches of 2015 in the search engine giant’s annual “Year in Trends” report.

That report provides top-10 search lists nationwide based on new queries that had the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2015 compared to 2014.

But one serving of the “Toasted Graham Latte,” a drink released this past autumn from Starbucks, also means 300 calories down the hatch — not something those of us trying to lose weight can really afford.

With that in mind, and because we’re all about helping you keep up with your goals, we’ve rounded up substitute recipes for Google’s Top 5 Calorie Searches of 2015 that are sure to give you the same satisfaction (minus the excess calories).

1. Toasted Graham Latte (Starbucks)

Grande: Calories: 300, Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 210mg, Carbs: 43g, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 40g, Protein: 13g

Instead go with: Skinny Vanilla Latte w/ Graham Crumbles (Courtesy: Peanut Butter & Peppers)

Ingredients

• ½ cup brewed coffee
• ⅔ cup non-fat milk
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ - ½ tsp stevia (to taste)

Directions

• In a small sauce pan add milk, stevia and vanilla extract. Over low heat, whisk milk constantly at a fast speed for froth, for approx 2 minutes or until milk is warm and froth.
• Pour into coffee.
• Add a few graham cracker crumbles on top. 

Calories: 94.1, Fat: .03g, Cholesterol: 3.2mg, Sodium: 85mg, Carbs: 9.5g, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 9.6g, Protein: 5.6g

2. Palm Breeze (Ruby Red Citrus Spritz alcoholic beverage)

Calories: 222, Cholesterol: 34g

Instead go with: Aperol Spritz (Courtesy: Shape Magazine)

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1 orange slice
• 3 parts Cinzano Prosecco
• 2 parts Aperol
• 1 dash soda water

Directions
Place ice and orange slice in a serving glass. Pour in Prosecco, Aperol, and soda water.

Calories: 120; Cholesterol: 21g

3. Flat White (Starbucks)

Grande: Calories: 220, Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 150mg, Carbs: 18g, Fiber: 0, Sugar: 40g, Protein: 12g

Instead go with: Low-calorie Cappuccino (Courtesy: Diet Recipes Blog)

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups strong brewed coffee
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup skim milk

Directions

• Brew the coffee. After the coffee has brewed, combine the milk and sugar, and heat it in the microwave for 2 minutes at the highest setting.
• Whip the heated milk/sugar mix in the blender for about 1 minute (until it’s a fluffy foam).
• Fill a cup two thirds full with coffee and top it off with the heated froth.

Calories: 60, Fat: 0.3g; Cholesterol: 2.4 mg, Sodium: 76.1mg, Carbs: 8.9 g, Fiber: 0g, Protein: 5g

4. Grilled Stuft Nachos (Taco Bell)

Calories: 570, Fat: 32g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 960mg, Carbs: 56g, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 5g, Protein: 14g

Instead go with: Cheesy Chili Nachos (Courtesy: Marlene’s Cuisine)

Ingredients

• (Makes 4 servings)
• 8 ounces lean ground turkey (or 93% lean ground beef)
• 3/4 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 ounces reduced-fat tortilla chips (about 25 chips)
• 2 teaspoons margarine or butter
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• Pinch of garlic powder
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

Directions

• Spray a medium skillet with non-stick cooking spray and place over medium high heat. Add ground turkey, onion, and red bell pepper to pan, breaking meat apart with a spoon. Cook until meat is browned and vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper. Stir in tomatoes and 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in beans and heat until warmed. Cover to keep warm and remove from heat.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, melt margarine and flour and whisk until smooth. Add chicken broth and and garlic powder and bring to a boil, stirring continuously for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in cheese one-half cup at a time.
• Spread chips out onto a serving platter. Spoon chili mixture evenly onto chips and then drizzle cheese mixture over chili. Top with your favorite garnishes and serve. 

Calories: 160, Fat: 7g; Cholesterol: 45 mg, Sodium: 260g, Carbs: 12g, Fiber: 3g, Protein: 13g

5. Bacon Wrapped Deep Dish (Little Caesars)

1 slice: Calories: 450, Fat: 23g; Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 830mg, Carbs: 42g, Fiber: 2g, Protein: 17g

Instead go with: Light Chicken Pineapple Bacon Pizza (Courtesy: The Creative Bite)

Ingredients

• 1 Tumaro’s new york deli style wraps
• ¼ c. of your favorite pizza sauce
• ½ c. shredded rotisserie chicken
• ¼ c. cooked bacon, crumbled
• ⅓ c. shredded Manchego cheese
• ⅓ c. pineapple bits
• ¼ c. green onions, chopped

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 400°
• Place your tortilla on a pizza pan and spray both sides with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 7-8 minutes, or until it is slightly crispy.
• Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the crispy tortilla and top with pineapple bits, bacon, rotisserie chicken and shredded Manchego cheese.
• Return the pizza to the oven for 7-8 minutes, or until everything is warmed through. Top with green onions and serve immediately.

1 slice: Calories: 312, Fat: 14g; Cholesterol: 51mg, Sodium: 817mg, Carbs: 18g, Fiber: 5g, Protein: 23g

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Author: Caitlin H
Diet-to-Go Community Manager

Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about engaging with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key, and people will have the most weight loss success if they engage in common-sense healthy eating and fitness.

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