At this time of year, when it’s cold, dark and grey outside, and we’re all recovering from all the Christmas shopping and other festive stresses, there’s nothing we want more than comfort food. When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than warming up with hearty casseroles and stodgy puddings. This kind of food is like a big hug when you need it the most. It might be one of your favorite things about the season, and there’s nothing quite like warming up with a big comforting classic after a long winter day.
But, this is also a time where a lot of us are thinking about our weight, our health and how we can improve our diets. Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions every year are to lose weight, to eat healthier, or to make healthy changes to our diets.
You might be wondering if you can possibly have both? A healthy diet that includes plenty of warming comfort food? Of course, you can. Comfort food doesn’t have to mean unhealthy food, and a few unhealthy treats, as part of a balanced diet, won’t throw your healthy eating plans off course.
Learn Healthy Versions of Classics
If you love treating yourself to comforting meals and snacks, but you’re keen to make changes, this healthy cornbread recipe is a perfect example of how you can have both. It’s low in weight watchers points, and far lower in sugar and fat than traditional cornbread recipes, but still tastes fantastic.
It’s certainly not the only classic that you can adapt either. If you’ve got favorite comforting meals and treats, look for low-fat alternatives.
Enjoy Sweet Vegetables
We all crave sweet things from time to time, especially when we’re longing for a bit of comfort. Fortunately, not all sweet things are filled with refined sugars and saturated fats. Fruit is a fantastic sweet snack, and adding sweet veg like roasted carrots and sweet potatoes to your main meals can satisfy your cravings.
Make Some Healthy Switches
Using different recipes is one option; another is making healthy switches to the recipes and meals that you already know and love. Use a low-fat cooking spray instead of oil or butter. Pick up the low-fat ground beef, and other low-fat options. Even swapping deep-fried fries for oven fries, and something as simple as skimming the fat off the top of a casserole can make a big difference to your diet.
Enjoy in Moderation
If your diet is truly balanced, you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, drink lots of water and limit your alcohol intake, enjoying the occasional comforting meal won’t hurt you. Have a smaller portion than usual, and skip the side orders and extras. Enjoy the things that you love in moderation, as part of a healthy diet, and you’ve got nothing to worry about.
Give Up Bad Habits
Moderation is excellent, but if you’ve got terrible food habits, perhaps you drink fizzy drinks every day, then giving up entirely can be worthwhile. Cut these bad habits, and your caloric intake will be significantly reduced, and your health improved.
