Often people have mistaken the concept of comfort foods. They consider it unhealthy and not suitable for anyone who is calorie conscious. But, the truth is to stay healthy you don’t need to forgo your urge for comfort foods, instead look for various other recipes and ideas that can satisfy your urge for comfort food without adding unnecessary calories. Everything in moderation is fine.
Taking this into consideration, we have compiled a list of 25 comfort food recipes that you can consume as a part of healthy eating without worrying about the calorie counts.
1. Skinny Chicken & Sun-dried Tomato Pasta with Mozzarella
Pasta is one of the leading comfort foods and people just love it. Everything in moderation is fine even if you are not very calorie conscious. This skinny chicken mozzarella with sun-dried tomatoes is just amazing. The flavors of all the ingredients blend so well that it makes for an awesome dish. It is simple to make and when served with cheesy garlic bread occasionally, this pasta dish makes for a perfect comfort dish on weekends.
2. Cauliflower Crust Pizza
This is not a regular pizza that we are used to eating all the time. This one is free of grains and is made from cauliflower instead of the regular flour. Pizza is notorious for being calorie rich and high in carbohydrates, but we all know how delicious it is. But, here is a low-calorie, low-carb, healthy and delicious pizza that is packed with the benefits of vegetables.
It swaps grains for the mouth-watering and healthy cauliflower florets. This veggie powered pizza should be included in your diet whenever you have cravings. The creative base and the delicious crust folds up like a traditional pizza. With fewer calories, this healthy comfort food recipe can be enjoyed without any guilt.
3. Skinny 4 Ingredient Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
Skinny crock pot chicken taco is a boon for weight watchers. All you need to make this healthy comfort food is chicken, salsa, garlic and some Mexican hot sauce. The recipe is simple and has the lovely flavors of all natural ingredients. For a healthy option you can serve it inside the lettuce cups instead of the corn taco shells. To make it more interesting, you can include cheese and sour cream and add in some cilantro and onion.
4. Healthy Ham and Cheese Casserole with Apples and Sage
There is no particular definition for a comfort food. These foods can be anything and the choice of food depends a lot on the person who eats it. The Ham and cheese casserole with apples and sage is one such food that provides the warmth and happiness that is expected of a comfort food. This casserole dish is healthy, cheesy and covered in crispy and buttery breadcrumbs.
It is exactly that kind of dish that you crave for in the chilly winter evenings. The best part of this healthy casserole dish is that there is limited use of butter, but the thickness that comes with the white sauce is achieved from the Greek yoghurt and a handful of grated cheddar cheese. This reasonably healthy dish can be consumed on a regular basis and contains a good mix of fall flavors and a few fantastic leftovers too.
5. Skinny Microwave Tomato Baked Eggs
Microwave need not be used only for re-heating or defrosting. It can be used for cooking, which many people forget about. Eggs are one such item that can be cooked in a microwave. Microwave baked eggs with tomatoes are best done if you want to pack something in a hurry without the hassle of a stove or an oven. It’s a food that you can grab while you are running late, which can be cooked with very limited equipments even in an office kitchen.
6. Jillian Michaels Skinny Brownies
Chocolates are a well-known comfort food and there are times when you would want to dip into the sinful taste of its mouth-watering sweetness. The skinny brownies are a perfect solution for your cocoa cravings and all this can be achieved guilt free without worrying about the added calories. The ingredients that go into this healthy comfort food are wheat flour, olive oil, applesauce and honey. Honey is a good replacement for the unhealthy sugar and the taste is absolutely dreamy and rich with flavors. This brownie has just 86 calories per serving.
7. Skinny Turkey Meatloaf
The skinny turkey meatloaf is an easy to make and quick dinner recipe that can be made on a busy weekday nights. All you have to do is throw in all the ingredients and put the tray into an oven and your meatloaf is ready in an hour. Serve it with a choice of vegetables and your complete meal for the day is ready to be served hot. Skinny Turkey meatloaf is a great dish for anyone who is into healthy eating, but doesn’t want to compromise on the taste.
8. Skinny Lasagna Rolls
The skinny lasagna rolls is an ideal comfort food recipe that is correctly proportioned and filled with delicious spices and herbs that is full of flavors. They are a healthy alternative to the rich and calorie filled regular lasagna. This healthy comfort food is individually packed in small sized rolls and is less in calories too. The best part of this healthy comfort food is that you can make this and store it in the refrigerator for serving as and when required for friends and family.
9. Skinny Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake
This is a mouthwatering yet low fat chocolate mug cake recipe that is a perfect cheat food without the actual cheating. A low fat and healthy cake are often dense, dry, and chewy and lacks the fun factor of eating a super indulgent dessert like cake. The skinny microwave cake is another recipe that can be easily made in a microwave with fewer calories and less points. This is a guilt free recipe that is ready in five minutes, which is a rarity when chocolate cakes are concerned.
10. Skinny, Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Soups are nice comforting foods especially during the chilly weathers and when you catch cold. Nothing comes as close to the creamy chicken noodle soup when you are under the weather. It is that time when you crave for some comforting foods, but since you are into healthy eating, you would want a lighter version of this soup without the heavy calories. Instead of using the regular milk, go for the evaporated milk to lighten up the macaroni and cheese. The soup came out nice and creamy with less calories and can be cooked up in half an hour.
11. Skinny Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Skip the butter on the mashed potatoes and the dish completely turns into a healthy alternative to the popular comfort food. Go for the Yukon gold potatoes that have a natural buttery texture and golden color. Light and fluffy, loaded with lots of flavor and the incredibly rich tasting, the skinny parmesan mashed potatoes is an ultimate healthy comfort food.
12. Lightened Up General Tso’s Chicken
Restaurant foods are usually rich in salts and high in calories. But, cooking your favorite comfort food at home is always nice as you can control the ingredients that go into making the recipe so that the final dish is healthy and tasty too. This lightened General Tso’s chicken is made from the healthy white meat chicken breast. The recipe is sautéed lightly in a wok with a mix of healthy stir-fry sauce. The final dish is less than half the calories compared to the same dish if you had ordered from a restaurant.
13. Skinny Chicken Parmesan
The skinny chicken parmesan is a perfect weeknight meal that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The skinny chicken parmesan is a healthy comfort food recipe because it is cooked in an oven and not fried. This skinny grilled chicken is an ultimate guilt free version of your favorite classic grilled chicken. It is juicy, tender, and satisfies your Italian food cravings without harming your healthy food regime.
14. Crispy Skinny French Fries
When you talk of comfort food, the French fries top the list for many. A visit to the nearby fast food joint is mostly just to have this absolutely delicious comforting food that can be had anytime of the day. These are just the best. But, if you are into healthy eating, then you need to consider your choice of food, especially the French fries. The crispy skinny version of French fries is slightly time consuming, but actually very simple to make. So, don’t get intimidated by the process, just go ahead and try to make these amazing and delicious comfort food at home in a healthy way.
15. Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese Casserole
Mac and cheese is never considered a healthy food due to the high calorie content, but when you make the same dish with cauliflower the recipe changes for better. This recipe is a wholesome spin to the favorite comfort food Mac and cheese. Adding cauliflower to the dish makes sure that you are eating enough of vegetables, the dish is lighter, but doesn’t compromise on the creaminess. The dish is ready in 35 minutes, which makes it a perfect comfort food that can be made even during weeknights.
16. Skinny Beef Stroganoff
Health food lovers will love this skinny beef stroganoff. At home you can make this healthy comfort food without sacrificing the flavor and taste. This is a comforting dish that will make you feel satisfied without the guilt. The key to making this dish healthy is to replace the heavy cream with yoghurt that adds moisture and creaminess without adding on the calories. The tanginess of the yoghurt improves the flavor and taste of the beef stroganoff. To make it healthy you can even add a choice of vegetables like spinach and peas. Even the noodles are egg yolk free, which means you can enjoy your recipe guilt free.
17. Skinny Double Chocolate Pudding Pie
Chocolate pudding pie is one of the easiest and quickest recipes that are loaded with the goodness of chocolate. It is not very sweet, but it is still better to have it after a meal. The skinny double chocolate pudding pie is a chocoholic’s dream dish. This pie is super moist and low in calories, what else you want in a comfort food if you are into healthy eating. To make it more interesting and presentable you can top it up with whipped cream, fruits, crumbled cookies, homemade jam or hot fudge. The final product looks like it has taken a lot of time to make, but it takes around 35-40 minutes to get the whole pudding pie ready.
18. Cucumber Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese
Feeling down? Then it is time to eat a grilled cheese sandwich. This grilled cheese sandwich is made from goat cheese and is quite creative in lot of ways. This is a great option as a brunch on a hot summer day with the flavors of fresh cucumber in your mouth. This sandwich is light and low in fat, but rich in complex flavor and crisp to taste.
19. Skinny Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper Soup
This is a secret diet recipe that is not only tasty and comforting, but is less in calories. This soup is an excellent source of vitamins and the flavor of pepper gives a nice twist to this one. It is hearty and healthy food for anyone who is on diet with a lot of richness. With just 138 calories and 3 smart points, this red pepper soup is a nice and healthy way to beat your hanger pangs.
20. Guilt Free Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Cravings for chocolate can happen anytime and if you are on diet this can ruin all your plans. This sugar rich dessert is an ultimate comfort food that you would want to reach out to every time you have a craving. But, the guilt free chocolate almond butter cups are a perfect solution for your carvings and they are simple to make too. These healthy versions is a mixture of oat flour, almond butter, sea salt and dark chocolate all are known to be healthier and less in calories if consumed in moderation. Instead of maple syrup you can substitute it with honey, which is another healthy alternative to sugar.
21. Skinny Jalapeno Popper Puffs
Traditional jalapeno popper puffs are calorie rich, but these puffs have 140 calories for two. Moreover, these puffs are gluten free. Everyone loves jalapeno popper puffs, but this version is best suited for people who are into healthy eating and want to stay fit. Healthy food doesn’t necessarily mean boring and bland, this ultimate comfort food is a perfect example of how to eat healthy without compromising on taste.
22. Lighter Pot Pie
Who can resist this crispy and delicious comfort food that is made from fresh vegetables instead of meat? We all love this warm and filling pot pie recipe that you will want to make every other day. A handful of smart changes will make this savory dish with extra veggies and olive oil a healthy option for a comfort food.
23. Skinny Microwave Banana Mug Cake
This low fat microwave banana mug cake is super easy to make and tastes delicious. You can make this comfort food in less than five minutes, yes you heard it; it is that simple. The entire recipe is less than 100 calories and is a perfect solution for those days when you have food cravings and want to eat something very interesting on the day. Try making this at home and you will love it for sure.
24. Healthier Chicken and Waffles
This food is not considered entirely healthy, but with slight variation you can alter the whole dish and make it suit the diet conscious person’s platter. Both chicken and waffles are an ultimate comfort food and can be made in many different ways and they all taste delicious. To make it healthy and decrease the guilt about indulgence, you can wisely choose the ingredients that go into making this awesome dish. You can choose the baked option instead of the fried one to make it more diet friendly.
25. Skinny Whole Wheat Snicker doodle Cookie
The whole wheat snicker doodle cookie are made from wheat instead of the unhealthy refined flour and is topped with cinnamon, spice and everything to make it delicious, flavorful and mouthwatering. Just by changing a few ingredients with healthy alternatives, you can make a cookie that serves as a comfort food and is also low in calories.
With a few minor changes in the recipes you can make your own ultimate comfort food that is healthy, less in fat and guilt free. No more bland and tasteless recipes, now you can enjoy these comfort food recipes and still stick to the healthy eating habits.