MODESTO, Calif., Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Winter months bring cold fronts and cravings for heavier snacks and meals. For those looking to stay on track in the New Year while still enjoying favorite comfort foods, Carrots 'N' Cake healthy eating blogger Tina Haupert has created a collection of recipes to lighten up dishes like mac & cheese and chocolaty brownies. The recipes represent a day's worth of meals, from breakfast to dessert and two quick and easy snacks to help avoid calorie traps in heavy winter dishes.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140115/LA46363)

Haupert has partnered with California Almonds to create this delicious collection of dishes and simple, everyday tips to remake favorite recipes. With simple substitutions like almond flour for breadcrumb toppings and swapping a banana for some of the fat in baked goods, even the most indulgent dish can be remade without sacrificing taste. To delight your palate, find Haupert's recipes and tips here: Almonds.com/TinaHaupert.

"Winter can be so cold and dreary, most of us naturally crave heavy and decadent foods," Haupert says. "If you are like me and try to stay on track all year round, but still want to enjoy seasonal recipes, it can be challenging. That's why I created this collection of recipes and tips - with simple substitutions and ingredients like almonds, these recipes are calorie conscious, but still satisfying, comforting and perfect for winter."

Tina's tips include:


    --  How to make lower-fat baked goods
    --  Delicious mayo alternatives for tuna, chicken and pasta salads
    --  Salad topping substitutions for croutons and bacon bits

The opening dish of the collection offers a delicious start to the day, Maple-Cinnamon Sweet Potato Pancakes, and then a lightened up PB&J and BLT combination, Toasted Almond Butter & Marmalade Sandwich with Turkey Bacon. For the main event, the Lightened-Up Mac & Cheese will delight kids and adults alike, remaking a childhood favorite with delicious twists (including spinach and Brussels sprouts), followed by Gluten-Free Almond Brownies. For snacks throughout the day, the Pick-Me-Up Smoothie made with espresso tastes rich, but is calorie-conscious and finally the Almond Energy Bars provide some crunch power, with fiber and 6 grams of protein per serving.

For more information on Tina and to check out her recipes and tips, visit Almonds.com/TinaHaupert.

About Tina Haupert
Tina Haupert is the creator of the popular lifestyle blog Carrots 'N' Cakewhere she writes about the balance between having fun and staying fit. Tina is a weekly contributor to Health.com and is the author of Carrots 'N' Cake: Healthy Living One Carrot and Cupcake at a Time. Tina's work has been published and quoted in numerous publications including The Boston Globe, Health, Woman's Day, Shape, Fitness, Glamour, People and InStyle. Tina lives in Boston, Massachusetts with her husband, Mal, and adorable pug, Murphy. She is expecting her first child in the spring of 2014.

About California Almonds
 Almonds from California are a natural, wholesome and quality food. The Almond Board of California promotes almonds through its research-based approach to all aspects of marketing, farming and production on behalf of the more than 6,000 almond growers and processors in California, many of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit Almonds.com.

SOURCE California Almonds