4 Comfort Foods Made Healthy

4 Comfort Foods Made Healthy Image via thecakeblog.com While it is totally acceptable (and necessary) to indulge in your favorite high-calorie comfort foods (especially during the upcoming holiday season), there are times when you don’t have to sacrifice health for flavor. All that you have to do is alter the preparation by simply swapping some of the ingredients in your favorite comfort foods with more nutritious options. Believe it or not, you can still do this with a lot of your favorite treats and still have them taste just as sinful as if they were the original dish. Try some of these recipes for my favorite healthified versions of comfort foods that will taste as though your mom cooked them herself (well most of the time). Spaghetti Squash Carbonara Image via simplehealthykitchen.com Sometimes you just crave a big ol’ plate full of spaghetti and cheese, and while it may seem appealing to indulge at your favorite Italian joint for a night, I urge you to try this swap first. Pasta carbonara is a rich and flavorful Italian delicacy but the traditional preparation renders it high in fats and carbohydrates. By trading out pre-packaged spaghetti noodles for homemade spaghetti squash you save about 190 calories per one cup serving (that means more room for cheese). Don’t worry, this recipe still keeps many of the fun aspects of carbonara, including the bacon and Parmesan. You definitely have to try this yummy recipe from simplehealthykitchen.com. Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies Image via chelseasmessysapron.com One of the all-time best comfort foods has to be simple chocolate chip cookies (and a glass of milk). Although there is nothing more satisfying than a soft and warm chocolate chip cookie, this is definitely a treat that you should seldom indulge in (if looking to maintain a healthy diet). However, there are ways that you can recreate this classic dessert without the guilt. The best part is that these healthified cookies are flourless and contain no butter or refined white sugar. They are bursting with flavor and sure to be your new favorite healthy comfort food. Try the recipe ASAP from chelseasmessyapron.com. Oven Baked Chicken And Waffles Image via lacrema.com Okay, so this one is a bit more indulgent. But if you’re from the South, the smell of chicken and waffles is like nothing else (not to mention the taste). Well with this recipe, you can treat yourself to this super delicious dish without feeling guilty. With some modifications, you can now enjoy it for only 265 calories. Find the recipe from skinnymom.com. Mashed Cauli-tatoes I can’t deny that a bowl of mashed potatoes is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. The simple deliciousness of America’s favorite side dish is incomparable and while the flavor is something that we can’t get enough of, the carb dense potatoes certainly are. But fear not, because I have found the easiest swap for taters that still creates a silky smooth heavenly side dish that could even fool the most devoted potato lover. All that you have to do is use rice cauliflower instead! I know that the idea of using cauliflower to make mashed potatoes seems a bit well, wrong, but trust me you will be licking your plate once you try your hand at these. *Shortcut: Although the recipe calls for a head of cauliflower, you can skip the first few steps by buying a bag of pre-riced cauliflower at Trader Joe’s. Ingredients: -1 large head fresh cauliflower, stems trimmed and florets roughly chopped -3 Tbsp  pastured butter  or  ghee -1 tsp  sea salt -1 tsp  garlic powder - ½ tsp  black pepper -Pinch of fresh herbs of your choice, such as  parsley  or  chives Instructions: •Cut up the head of cauliflower. Remove as much of the stems from the florets as possible. •Rough-chop the florets or pulse them a few times in a food processor, but chopping them does the trick. •Steam the cauliflower. You can use a steamer basket or a stock pot with a lid and a stainless steel colander. You can also place the grains in a bowl and microwave them. •On medium-high heat, steam the cauliflower for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring twice during steaming. The cauliflower pieces should be just fork tender, but not mushy. •Absorb some of the moisture from the steamed cauliflower with a dishcloth or paper towel. •Transfer the steamed cauliflower to a blender. •Quickly add butter or ghee, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. •Pulse a couple of times to get the blender going, then blend on low speed for 20 to 30 seconds, until smooth. Don’t over-blend. •Sprinkle with chopped herbs and serve immediately.