Healthy and Delicious: Comfort Foods
Nothing hits the spot quite like comfort food—but traditional comfort foods don’t always meet the mark when it comes to sticking to your health goals. Chef Tim Zintz shares his tips, tricks, and swaps to help lighten up some of your favorite comfort foods. And he suggests some of his favorite recipes so you can make them at home!
Making Over 9 Classics
From soups and entrees to breakfast and desserts, Chef Tim suggests ways to lighten nine of your favorites. For example, use ground turkey, diced mushrooms—or a combo—for meatloaf, burgers, and meatballs. “Turkey can be a leaner protein than beef but still flavorful,” says Chef Tim. “And mushrooms are low-calorie, fat-free … [and] explode with umami flavor.”
Balancing Act
When it comes to healthier comfort foods, resist the urge to go all or nothing. It’s about balance, not perfection. “Don’t let healthy get in the way of healthier or a dish’s authenticity,” Chef Tim says. “Comfort food brings people immense joy—so enjoy it, and start making some new memories.”
A Recipe for Comfort
On the blog at the link, Chef Tim not only suggests swaps to lighten things up but also provides recipes for each comfort food so you can try them at home, including Chicken Pot Pie and Mixed Berry Cobbler (pictured).
Note: Since everyone’s health history and nutritional needs are so different, please make sure that you talk with your doctor and a registered dietitian to get advice about the diet and exercise plan that‘s right for you.