One of the most famous Italian dishes people adore ordering at an Italian restaurant or other casual chains is gooey, indulgent mozzarella sticks. However, it’s no secret that they’re not known for being a weight-loss-friendly food. Until now, that is.
MaKayla Thomas, a viral nutrition specialist, weight loss coach, and TikTok content creator, recently shared her recipe for “high protein” and low-calorie mozzarella sticks that helped her lose 55 pounds post-partum. While they may not be the most authentic version of the Italian appetizer, they certainly help satisfy the craving for the friend, salty snack, all while pushing you closer to your weight loss goals. Read more about how MaKayla makes her low-calorie mozzarella sticks below.
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MaKayla Thomas' Low-Calorie Mozzarella Sticks Contain A Unique Ingredient
The weight loss coach starts making her low-calorie mozzarella sticks with an ingredient that you may not have been expecting: wonton wrappers! According to her video's caption, a serving of three wonton wrappers only contains 50 calories, making them a lower-calorie option than thick coatings of breadcrumbs that mozzarella sticks are usually made out of.
Next, instead of slicing fresh mozzarella cheese, she conveniently uses a light mozzarella cheese stick for her filling. Mozzarella cheese sticks, especially light ones, are an excellent weight loss snack, as they are low in calories and impressively high in protein. For instance, one light mozzarella stick can contain up to eight grams of protein. Just one!
MaKayla Assembles & Cooks Her Healthier Mozzarella Sticks
Once she has her wonton wrappers and mozzarella sticks, she cuts a string cheese in half and places it in the center of a wonton wrapper before neatly folding the wrapper along the cheese. She repeats this until she has a serving of four wonton wrapped mozzarella sticks, although as she writes in her caption, you can "make as many as you want."
As soon as the nutrition specialist's sticks are assembled, she "mists" them with a cooking oil before sticking them in a 400-degree air-fryer for five to six minutes. Once they're crunchy, crispy, and a little golden brown, she sprinkles a bit of Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese to give them that classic mozzarella stick taste.
Each mozzarella stick contains around 40 calories, which means that you could eat six of them for around 240 calories, making them a high-volume, low-calorie snack that's great for weight loss. Additionally, each stick contains around 3 grams of protein, so eating a plate of them can help you meet your protein and overall weight loss goals.
