Comfort Food Makeovers!

Your favorite comfort foods with less guilt and more nutrients.

So it’s Fall, and if you’re like me you’re craving potatoes and pastas and casseroles and anything hot and hearty. I wanted to share some ideas and recipes for some of my favorite Comfort-Food Makeovers.

Also, being a food lover and a proud Italian cook, I don’t skimp on flavor. Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring or lacking in that sense of satiety we get when we really savor our food.

Here are some foods that you can make with a few healthy substitutes, while maintaining the integrity of the “mmmmm” factor:

*           Comfort Food: Mashed Potatoes

            The Switch: use cauliflower and navy beans instead of potatoes!

                               (add a little extra herbs or roasted garlic for more guilt-free flavor)

            The Recipe: http://www.sagerecipes.com/2012/01/12/a-low-carb-substitute-for-mashed-potatoes/    

*           Comfort Food: Lazagna

            The Switch: use zucchini instead of noodles!

            The Recipe: http://foxvalleymagazine.com/food/20563-eat-for-the-season.html

*           Comfort Food: Meatloaf

            The Switch: Add shredded veggies and lentils to displace some of the meat

            The Recipe: http://www.purposefullysimple.com/turkey-lentil-veggie-meatloaf/

*           Comfort Food: Pizza

            The Switch: Add extra veggies to fill up on nutrients, use whole wheat crust, and more

            The Recipe: A whole slideshow of recipes-

            http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy/photos/healthy-pizza-makeovers.html

*           Comfort Food: Tacos

            The Switch: Use bibb lettuce instead of taco shells/tortillas

            The Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/232454/lettuce-leaf-tacos/

Have a Sweet Tooth?

*           Comfort Food: Chocolate Pudding/Mousse

            The Switch: Use Avocado instead of dairy as the base

            The Recipe: http://foxvalleymagazine.com/index.php?news=20499

*           Comfort Food: Cheesecake

            The Switch: Use

            The Recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/cherry-ricotta-cheesecake-recipe.html

*           Comfort Food: Brownies:

            The Switch: Black Beans add protein and substitute some fat/sugar

            The Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/237100/brownie-mix-black-bean-brownies/