Light Monte Cristo Sandwich
This post was written by me an behalf of Sara Lee®. This is still a good recipe and all opinions are my own.
We’re coming up on that time of year again….New Year’s Resolution time. Of course, what’s the number one resolution…Loose Weight! It’s also one of the most broken resolutions. I know, I’ve done it myself. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has lost (and re-gained) the same five (or ten) pounds more times than they’d like to admit?
You know how it goes…
I need to lose weight (event or occasion coming)…”crash” diet….weight lost….event comes, and goes….weight comes back.
It seems, in order to lose weight and keep it off I have to give up EVERYTHING delicious! I can give up the things I love for a short time, but not forever. Besides, it’s the holidays, right? We’ll make changes in the New Year…and so the cycle starts over. What good is that really doing? Wouldn’t it be better to make small, more permanent changes that are easy to live with?
Today, I’m going to share a Lighter version of my new favorite sandwich….Monte Cristo. If you aren’t familiar with a Monte Cristo Sandwich it may sound a little odd, at first. I know I was skeptical. It’s a ham, turkey and cheese sandwich, dipped in batter, fried, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with a side of raspberry jam. Interesting? Is it breakfast or lunch?
It doesn’t matter…they’re delicious! Like most delicious fried food…very high calorie. The nutritional facts I found said:
Calories…..616
Total Fat….36g
Total carbs…..46
Let’s see how we can make a lighter version.
First, I started with Sara Lee® Delightful Breads. These really are “Delightful”. The breads come in several varieties including Wheat, Mulit-Grain, and a new Oatmeal. I chose 100% Wheat, made with real honey.
The Delightful Breads only have forty-five calories a slice! With so few calories I thought the pieces might be too thin, but they weren’t at all. They don’t have artificial colors, flavors or high fructose corn syrup. What Sara Lee® Delightful Breads give you is a heart-healthy bread with a wonderful texture….AND fiber! Fiber is very important and as we’ve recently learned, not easy to get. Two slices of Delightful Bread contains five gram of fiber. That may not sound like a lot but trust me, it is. Just look at the back of your favorite foods and see how little fiber they actually contain.
Next, I choose leaner cuts of meat and “slim” slices of cheese, as well as low-fat milk. All easy things that cut back on calories, added fiber and still had an amazing taste.
Here’s the Recipe:
2 slices Sara Lee® Delightful Bread (your choice of flavor)
2 slices ham – thinly sliced
2 slices turkey – thinly sliced
1 slice “slim” Swiss cheese
1 egg white
1 Tbsp low or no-fat milk (I used 1%)
1-1/2 tsp raspberry jam, for dipping
powdered sugar
I didn’t have thin sliced ham so I cut a thicker slice in half so it covered the bread better
Separate egg
Combine egg white and milk
Dip one slice of bread in egg mixture and place dipped side down on a waffle maker (or griddle)
Top with cheese, ham and turkey
Dip second slice of bread and place dipped side up
Apply gentle pressure until waffle maker lid closes completely
Cook 1- 2 minutes, depending on your waffle maker
Remove and dust lightly with powdered sugar
Let’s see how the Light Monte Cristo Sandwich compares…
Calories….190
Fat………..4.5g
Total Carbs……..21
Even during this wonderful season of celebrating, it’s possible to make better choices and every little bit helps! Sara Lee is encouraging us to join Sara Lee® 45 Delightful People program. Share your healthy transformation and your inspiring story could help you win free bread for a year, an iPod Shuffle or $4500!
*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sara Lee®.
- 2 slices Sara Lee® Delightful Bread (your choice of flavor)
- 2 slices ham – thinly sliced
- 2 slices turkey – thinly sliced
- 1 slice “slim” Swiss cheese
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tbsp low or no-fat milk (I used 1%)
- 1-1/2 tsp raspberry jam, for dipping
- powdered sugar
- Separate egg
- Combine egg white and milk
- Dip one slice of bread in egg mixture and place dipped side down on a waffle maker (or griddle)
- Top with cheese, ham and turkey
- Dip second slice of bread and place dipped side up
- Apply gentle pressure until waffle maker lid closes completely
- Cook 1- 2 minutes, depending on your waffle maker
- Remove and dust lightly with powdered sugar
- Calories….190
- Fat………..4.5g
- Total Carbs……..21
3 Comments
Healing Tomato
December 17, 2014 at 9:25 PM
I ABSOLUTELY love how you converted the bread into a “Waffle”. I love your ideas.
Danita
December 18, 2014 at 7:39 AM
Thanks! I love making food fun. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Diana
December 12, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Wow this looks amazing!! Now I want a grilled cheese and ham sandwich!! I think we all have lost and re-gained those lbs! I was under my goal weight and then went through a tough time and gained some of it back and really want to get back to it. But I try not to get too down on myself. A little at a time right.
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