Comfort food is just what the doctor ordered! No matter how you’re feeling, it always makes things better. However, comfort food can be incredibly fattening and help you pack on the pounds! In the following article, we show you how to turn your favorite comfort foods, desserts, and drinks into healthier versions so you can eat and drink them without the guilt!
Hamburgers
Hamburgers are a staple among all comfort foods! From McDonald’s to Burger King, everyone loves their hamburgers! In fact, 84% of Americans love hamburgers, and 79% eat hamburgers at restaurants at least once per month! But, let’s face it, most hamburgers are laden with fat. So, how do we make it healthier? Well, first of all, you can replace the regular white bun with a low-GI bun to reduce the sugar. Then, instead of eating fattening meat, companies like Beyond Meat make wonderful vegan burgers that taste just like the real thing. If you’re not into vegan meat, try low-fat beef mince!
Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is one of the most delightful comfort foods that always hits the spot! Some people enjoy the taste of pasta and cheese, and others just love the melted cheese mixture. There are two ways to make this healthier. First, instead of using pasta, you can semi-cook cauliflower, pour the cheese over it, and then cook it in the oven. The alternative is to use pasta but substitute all cheese with low-fat versions.
Nachos
In Mexican cooking, you will always find nachos. This food is tasty, crunchy, and addictive – especially when downed with a margarita! But nachos are super fattening, especially when consumed in bucketloads. To make it healthier, use whole grain tortilla chips and create a massive bowl of guacamole only using natural avocado. Then, use low-fat cottage cheese and low-fat mozzarella cheese instead of high-fat cheddar and other fatty cheeses.
Deep Fried Chicken
Deep Fried Chicken is a staple in the US, especially in the country’s southern parts. In fact, 49% of Americans eat fried chicken at least once a week. The healthiest version of fried chicken is to substitute it with tasty grilled chicken loaded with peri-peri sauce, herbs, and spices. An example of this is Nandos, which is a Portuguese peri-peri chicken that originated in South Africa.
Cheese Ravioli
This is a beautiful Italian dish that just hits the spot. Most people order ravioli with cheese covered in tons of cheese, which is super delicious. A great way to make this dish healthier is by replacing the cheese inside the pasta with sweet potato and covering it with sweet potato sauce and low-fat grated mozzarella cheese – just delicious and more nutritious!
French Fries
French fries bring back the best memories, like eating them with your friends in high school at fast food restaurants. So, how do you make french fries healthier? Well, there are two ways. First, you can bake french fries instead of frying them, and another option is to use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, which lowers the GI in the body. Then, you can bake them and sprinkle Himalayan or garlic salt over them.
Butter Chicken (Indian Cuisine)
One thing is for sure, and that is Indian curry dishes can be both addictive and comforting! A popular Indian dish is butter chicken, containing a lot of buttery tomato sauce and cream. This dish contains 600-700 calories per serving. A much healthier curry alternative is Chana Masala. It’s a lovely alternative containing chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, spices, and a small amount of oil or ghee. At most, this adds up to 350 calories. You can place low-calorie plain Greek yogurt on top with fresh chopped cucumbers, cumin spice, and fresh cilantro.
Orange Chicken (Chinese Cuisine)
This delicious Chinese dish is made up of battered, fried chicken in sweet orange sauce. However, one serving can be a whopping 1,200 calories! A healthier version that contains only 250-300 calories per dish (without rice) is quite delicious! The ingredients are 450 grams of chicken breast cut into cubes or small slices, 1 tbsp cornstarch, salt and pepper, and 1 tbsp olive oil. For the sauce, use ¼ cup fresh orange juice, 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice/white vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp fresh orange zest, one minced garlic clove, ½ tsp fresh minced ginger, ½ tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water (for thickening). For an optional garnish, add green onions and sesame seeds.
Buffalo Wings
Buffalo wings are extremely popular in America. In fact, Americans can eat up to 1.45 billion per day while watching the NFL Super Bowl. However, they also eat buffalo wings at pubs and restaurants while sipping beer and soda. Buffalo wings are deep-fried, coated in spicy sauce, and often served with ranch dressing. One serving can reach 1300 calories! So, how can you make a healthier version? First, bake or air fry, or remove the skin. For the sauce, use ¼ cup hot sauce, 1 tbsp olive oil or melted light butter, and 1 tsp vinegar (optional). Then, for the dipping sauce, use Greek yogurt with garlic powder, some blue cheese or ranch seasoning, and lovely fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro (coriander). This serving adds up to around 700 calories instead!
Ice Cream
Everyone knows ice cream is the first “comfort food” you head for, especially after a breakup. However, ice cream has tons of calories, and you can easily gain weight by eating it. A healthier version is made with avocado, cacao powder, and coconut cream. All you need to do is mix two ripe avocados; one can of reduced-fat coconut cream, ½ cup cocoa powder, ⅓ to ½ cup raw maple syrup or honey, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and a pinch of kosher or pink Himalayan salt, which is optional! Then place in the freezer.
Cheesecake
One of the favorite cakes worldwide, especially in New York, is cheesecake – both fridge and baked versions. The regular version of the fridge cheesecake can contain up to 360 calories per slice. However, you can reduce it to 250 calories by utilizing reduced fat-cream cheese or Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese. Baked cheesecake can contain up to 500 calories per slice, but you can use low-fat or fat-free cream cheese, swap sour cream for Greek yogurt, reduce sugar, or use a substitute like stevia or monk fruit, and use egg whites only. You can make a thinner crust or replace graham crackers with oats or nuts. By using a small amount of melted coconut oil instead of butter in the crust, you save 10-20 calories per slice. All in all, this reaches around 200 calories per slice, saving you a whopping 300 calories!!
Chocolate
A firm favorite among billions of people is chocolate! However, most mass-produced chocolate is milk chocolate, which contains too much sugar and is fattening. The answer is to switch to dark chocolate – it must be 70% cacao and up. This is a much healthier option that acts as an antioxidant and is healthy for you! Plus, it’s also an aphrodisiac! Brands like Lindt and Godiva offer excellent options, and you can also find wonderful options at boutique chocolate shops. There’s always an excuse to get comfort from eating chocolate!
Long Island Iced Tea
This alcoholic cocktail is a favorite for many, bringing much comfort. However, Long Island iced tea is one of the highest calorie-dense drinks, containing around 700 calories per glass. Here’s how to reduce the calories: use ½ oz vodka (+/- 30 calories), ½ oz gin (+/- 30 calories), ½ oz rum (+/- 30 calories), ½ oz tequila (+/- 30 calories), ½ oz triple sec or orange-flavored low-calorie liqueur (+/- 40 calories), ½ oz fresh lemon juice (only +/- 5 calories), ½ oz fresh lime juice (only +/- 5 calories), and diet cola or sparkling water with a splash of cola flavoring (0 calories). That equals around 170 calories! This shaves off around 530 calories – wow!
Wine
This comes as no surprise. Millions drink a glass of wine every evening to relax after a hard work day. A typical glass of Cabernet Sauvignon (red) contains up to 125 calories. Sauternes (white) can contain up to 200 calories per glass. A healthier red wine alternative is young, low-ABV Pinot Noir, which contains up to 110 calories; a healthier white version is Dry Riesling, which contains up to 100 calories.
Hot Chocolate
When the wind and rain are blowing outside, and you can’t stop shivering from the cold weather, one of the best comforts (besides a warm blanket) is a big mug of delicious hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and marshmallows. Well, there is a healthy version! According to Danette May, a health guru from the US, here is her delicious recipe for healthy hot chocolate: Add ½ cup boiling water to the mug, ¼ cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk, one teaspoon of coconut oil, one scoop of Cacao Bliss, which you can order from Danette online (or healthy cacao powder from your nearest health store), and one teaspoon of raw honey.
Cappuccino
73% of people drink coffee daily – it is addictive, delicious, and keeps you awake to complete your work! There are so many varieties, but cappuccinos are extremely popular, often consumed first thing in the morning, at afternoon “tea,” or even after dinner. However, cappuccinos can be very fattening if they contain a lot of full-cream milk, whipped cream on top, as served in certain places, and mounds of sugar. Replace this everyday beverage with regular coffee topped with low-fat froth, and use a healthy sweetener like raw honey!
Conclusion
Well, there you go! From hamburgers and nachos to orange chicken, ice cream, chocolates, Long Island iced tea, and cappuccinos, now you know how to make healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods, desserts, and drinks. You no longer have to pack on extra pounds, guzzling down your favorites – just make their healthy alternatives and watch yourself feel much better!
