Who doesn’t have a favorite comfort food? People love them for a variety of reasons. Firstly, they’re often associated with positive memories. For instance, you may have fond memories of your grandmother making a specific dish or gathering around a family dinner table eating your favorite foods.
Secondly, comfort foods are often associated with a feeling of security and safety. Eating a familiar dish can help to bring a sense of calm and relaxation. Lastly, comfort foods often provide a sense of nostalgia and can trigger positive feelings and emotions.
Comfort foods can also be a way to reconnect with family and friends, as it often brings everyone together in the kitchen or around a dinner table. It can also be a way to celebrate special occasions such as holidays. Comfort foods can provide a sense of warmth and coziness, helping people to feel relaxed and content.
Why do comfort foods make people happy? They remind them of their childhoods. You associate the taste with good times from the past. Comfort foods also take us back to a time when you had fewer responsibilities before life became so complicated.
Unfortunately, comfort foods are not always healthy. Some of the most popular comfort foods are mac and cheese, pizza, ice cream, French fries, and grilled cheese. Comfort foods are often high in fat and calories because they contain carbohydrates like sugar or flour, which provide energy (calories) to fuel your body when you digest them.
But there are some ways to make your favorite comfort foods healthier without sacrificing too much of their taste. Let’s look at some ways to upgrade your favorite comfort foods and make them healthier.
Macaroni and Cheese
Who doesn’t find a plate of warm, gooey macaroni and cheese to be comforting? One reason mac and cheese aren’t always a healthy option is the noodles are made of refined flour. It’s also a starchy, high-calorie dish. Are there ways to make mac and cheese a healthier comfort food? Yes! Add as many vegetables to your macaroni and cheese as you comfortably can. Try cauliflower or broccoli florets, chopped spinach or peas. For an extra boost of protein, mix in white beans (such as cannelini). Switch those white flour noodles for noodles made of whole-wheat flour. To lower the calories, lighten up on the cheese. Additionally, use whole wheat macaroni for more fiber and complex carbohydrates. By making a few simple substitutions, you can enjoy a healthier version of this favorite dish.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are comfort food for many people. They’re easy to make and you make them in advance—a big plus when you’re cooking for a crowd on Thanksgiving or a Christmas meal. Let’s look at some ways to make mashed potatoes healthier and more nutritious:
Mix in pureed cauliflower with your mashed potatoes. Not only are you cutting down on carbs, but you increase the amount of nutrients in your side dish!
Add more flavor with herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley. They have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. Plus, they add more flavor to this creamy dish too. Don’t forget about garlic! It’s a natural for mashed potatoes.
Substitute butter with a healthier alternative such as olive oil, Greek yogurt, or even avocado for a unique taste.
To reduce the amount of fat, use milk or chicken broth instead of butter and cream.
Pizza
Making pizza healthier begins with selecting the right ingredients. Choose whole wheat or other whole grain dough or substitute a cauliflower crust. You can buy them premade in the frozen food section of some grocery stores. Choose lean protein options such as chicken or turkey sausage and low-fat cheeses.
To add flavor and nutrition, experiment with vegetables like peppers, mushrooms, onions, spinach, and tomatoes. For extra flavor and crunch, sprinkle on some nuts or seeds. When assembling your pizza, use a light hand when applying sauces, cheese, and meats. Use a higher ratio of tomato sauce to cheese.
Furthermore, consider baking your pizza instead of ordering it from a pizzeria as this will help to reduce fat and calories. Finally, enjoy your pizza in moderation. Making healthier pizza choices can help you to enjoy your favorite dish without compromising on taste or nutrition.
Brownies
Brownies are crave-worthy but with their high sugar content, they aren’t always healthy. But if you make them at home, you can make them less unhealthy and more nutritious. It comes down to substitutions. Start by using whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour, as it has more nutrients and is higher in fiber. You can also find brownie recipes that use almond flour or coconut flour, both of which are lower in carbohydrates.
You can also cut down on the amount of butter and replace it with applesauce. This will reduce the fat content and add some natural sweetness. Additionally, choose dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, as it has more antioxidants. Increase the anti-inflammatory benefits by adding nuts to your brownies.
Finally, use a sugar substitute such as stevia, monk fruit, or allulose, to reduce the amount of refined sugar in your brownies. By making these simple changes, you can enjoy the same delicious brownies with more health and nutritional benefits.
Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic comfort food. To make the meal healthier, start by using whole-grain bread instead of white bread. Whole-grain bread contains more fiber and nutrients than white bread. Consider adding some vegetables to the sandwich such as tomato, spinach, or onion slices. To make the cheese healthier, opt for low-fat cheese such as mozzarella or Swiss.
To reduce the amount of fat and calories, use extra-virgin olive oil cooking spray instead of butter to cook the sandwich. Finally, serve the sandwich with fresh fruit or a side salad for an even healthier meal. With a few tweaks, grilled cheese can be a nutritious and delicious meal.
Conclusion
You can still have your comfort food and eat it too by making healthy changes like adding more vegetables and switching out white rice for brown rice. This will help you avoid eating too many calories and more importantly, it will give you the nutrients that are essential for overall health. So, the next time you want to enjoy a comforting meal, think of ways to make it healthier—and we can help! Our recipes will give you plenty of ideas for making your favorite dishes without sacrificing taste or texture.
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