7 Healthy Ways to Say Oui to French Food

By: Emily Lee
Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm

NICOISE_SALAD_014.tif

Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm

Photo by: Antonis Achilleos

Antonis Achilleos

Would the French approve of some of these lighter twists on their greatest culinary hits? Would Julia Child? Maybe not. But in honor of Bastille Day, let’s just say, vive la différence — and la deliciousness.

Light Nicoise Salad (pictured above)

Chock-full of olives, bell peppers, plump cherry tomatoes and chunks of tuna fish, this Riviera staple hints that the French have known a little something about healthy eating all along.

By steaming the onions to get the caramelization started, this onion soup manages to call for just a fraction of the typical butter. A trio of onions and their relatives — yellow onions, shallots and leeks — ups the tastiness quotient. Topping it all off: whole-wheat baguette with just a sprinkling of the quintessential Gruyere.

Liberté, égalité … portion control! These mini quiches are individually sized and dispense with the typical crust. In addition, the combination of egg whites and whole eggs — beaten with skim milk and topped with a sprinkle of crumbled turkey bacon — makes for a tasty breakfast that’s not a caloric blow-out.

111212_FNM_CREPES_030.tif

Photo by: Kat Teutsch

Kat Teutsch

Call it a delicious Franco-American rendezvous: Delicate crepes meet creamy peanut butter and berry jam in this sweet recipe.

Ellie Krieger's Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin for Reshoots, as seen on Food Network.

Ellie Krieger's Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin for Reshoots, as seen on Food Network.

Photo by: Tara Donne

Tara Donne

Everybody c’est cheese! In this less hefty take on gratin goodness, 1-percent milk is swapped in for the classic cream. But don’t think this dish lacks anything in the flaveur department. A touch of rich and creamy Gruyere is all it takes.

Tofu? In chocolate mousse? Pureed until smooth, it actually develops the perfect consistency to take the place of traditional heavy cream.

Photo by: Stephen Johnson ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All rights Reserved

Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All rights Reserved

Cassoulet is normally the French version of a meat-lover’s fest, but this healthier iteration uses a modest portion of tasty smoked turkey kielbasa. And in addition to the conventional white beans, there’s a fiber-rich serving of farro. (Best of all, leftovers can be frozen for up to 1 month — or long after the last Bastille Day fireworks.)

Related Links:

Next Up

7 Healthy Ways to Grill Fresh Fruit Before the End of Summer

These recipes will steal a peach of your heart.

7 Savory Ways to Use Pumpkin Spice

There’s so much more to pumpkin pie spice blends than lattes and pies.

9 "Healthy" Foods to Skip

The word “healthy” can get tricky. Lots of foods get labeled good-for-you or may seem low-cal, but they're anything but. Here are 9 of the biggest offenders.

7 Ways to Waste Less Food While Cooking, According to a Recipe Developer

When you cook every day for a living, you get pretty savvy at putting every scrap to good use.

7 Lucky Foods for Friday the 13th

Banish bad vibes with these lucky recipes from Food Network.

7 Healthy Pizzas You'll Want to Make on Repeat

With a few simple swaps, you can enjoy pizza night more often.

7 Healthy Dinners You Can Make All Year Long

Because healthy eating isn’t just a "January thing."