Seven Healthy Comfort Foods

We’ve all been there; it’s been a whole week and we’ve been great about sticking to our diets. Then we get stressed out, maybe over work, or the kids, or an issue with a friend, and we turn to our comfort foods. Sure, we probably feel a bit better, but in the long run we?re adding lots of unneeded calories and even adding to our stress.

Instead of chewing down on needless sugar and fat calories, why not try one of these healthy comfort food alternatives instead? Making small adjustments to your already satisfying foods will help you cut the calories without cutting the taste.

* Pasta is a great way to make you feel full and satisfied, but it’s also a great way to pack on the pounds. Substitute your favorite pasta dish with whole grain or sprouted grain pasta. For an extra dose of healthy food, be sure to add fresh or frozen vegetables.

* Macaroni and cheese is one of the all-time top comfort foods, but it’s also pretty fatty. Next time try making it with regular whole milk, but substituting some low-fat cheese. It will still have the creamy goodness you love, without quite as much of the fat.

* Almost everyone out there loves chocolate when they’re stressed or sad, but you can still indulge without expanding your waistline. Instead of using milk chocolate in your recipes, try using dark chocolate or cocoa powder. They have all the good taste of chocolate, but they’re chock full of antioxidants and other healthy things. Just remember, milk cuts down on the healthy benefits of dark chocolate, so use it sparingly in these recipes.

* Love hamburgers, meat loaf, or anything else with ground beef? Try substituting all of some of the ground beef in your recipes for ground turkey. It has a similar taste, but even using a half and half mix can cut down on fat and calories in your meal. If you’re feeling really adventurous, try substituting pork for beef in your favorite dishes.

* Soup is a food for a cold day. But instead of using canned soup, next time make your own. Canned soups have tons of salt and preservatives. Simply by making the soup yourself instead of relying on cans makes the dish a whole lot healthier. Plus, you can make it just how your family likes it!

* When I’m settling down and ready to eat a satisfying dinner, I love mashed potatoes. To me there’s nothing better, except for maybe healthier mashed potatoes. By adding buttermilk instead of cream, you can keep the rich creamy taste with a lot less fat. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can also try substituting margarine for butter.

* There is one way sure-fire way to help turn any food into a comfort food and that’s spices. When you cut back on fat and calories, food has a tendency to get bland, so when making a new healthy recipe, pump up the spice. Try experimenting with different spices and quantities until you get it just right. But remember, there is such a thing as too much.

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