Mmmmmm Bacon

Who doesn't love bacon?  I could it eat it all day long!  But here's the facts: 3 slices of bacon equal 200 calories and 14g of fat.  I love the smell of the bacon sizzling in the pan...the fat melting off into a puddle of grease which makes the perfect emollient for frying eggs. Greasy, salty like buttah.  I have really been struggling with my weight lately.  I have noticed that certain foods certainly play a part in how I look and feel especially since I've turned 40.  I can not just eat 4 slices of bread and butter for a snack anymore or half a box of triscuits.  I HAVE to cut down on my wheat and gluten in take.  It has done wonders for me.  One of my issues though, is that I have been trying to get my 11 year old boy to eat more protein, especially in the morning.  So we started buying lots and lots of bacon and pre-making it so all I need to do in the morning is heat it up for him.  A slice for him and two for me...is how it ended up.  Needless to say I stopped buying so much bacon.  Even though cutting down on sugars and simple carbs was helping, eating gobs of bacon every morning was cancelling out the effects of less carbs.

Today I decided to experiment.  I had some proscuitto in the fridge.  My son likes Italian subs, so I keep a lot of cured meats on hand.  I decided to fry up some of this delicious dried and cured pork.  I got it somewhat carmelized and cooked it until it was crispy...wahlah!  It tasted like, oh yes, BACON!  I immediately started mixing it in my salad that I was having for lunch and put some in my potato salad.  All the salty goodness of bacon with half the fat and calories!  Yes, the price tag is somewhat higher, but it is so rich in flavor you don't need that much.  

So, my 'centsible' advice for today is if it sounds like a good idea - experiment!  I do it all the time.  Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.  This time it did and I am so pleased!  Next a recipe calls for bacon bits, try some proscuitto instead.  Just remember you have to fry it in a pan (no oil or butter necessary but maybe a little cooking spray) to get it nice and crispy first.  You will have your bacon flavor with none of the guilt or obsessing over calorie counting.

One last thought, there are so many things you can do with proscuitto - wrap it around asparagus and 'fry' it up for a snack; roll it in a chicken breast with your favorite cheese for a healthy cordon bleu; wrap melon chunks with it and a whole lot more.  I suggest you try this substitute.  You will be hooked!

Happy eating!