Such a thing as healthy comfort food?

crazybaby518
crazybaby518 Posts: 5 Member
in Recipes
I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of decently healthy comfort foods. I'm not a fan of cold foods (salads are blah). I love hot savory meals. Please if you suggest soup add something that can go with it. I view soup as a side, not dinner. But I'm really looking for something else. Any ideas?

Replies

  • theashtrees
    theashtrees Posts: 104 Member
    I was given a Paleo Comfort Foods book - its awesome! Lots of good things that aren't terribly bad for you. Also check out Pinterest for ideas.

    Here's a link to a my Chicken and Broccoli casserole that keeps me (allergic to most things) and my family (can eat anything & don't care) happy.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1231898-chicken-and-broccoli-casserole
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Eat your favorite comfort food in reasonable portions, and fit it into your calorie goal.

    Deprivation can lead to bingeing.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    if you eat in a calorie deficit you can enjoy as much of it as you want, as long as you maintain your deficit for the day ..

    or just eat a smaller breakfast and lunch and have a larger dinner…
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    make sure it fits your calorie and macro goals for the day and enjoy what you like
  • RedneckChicana
    RedneckChicana Posts: 20
    Go out and find Tofu Shirataki noodles! I made easy goulash with them and was like omfg happy. The whole meal was 222 calories. And yes I used real ground chuck. I didnt skimp on anything but the pasta. With those noodles you can enjoy pasta dishes again and not feel guilty. Also look into using cooked and pureed cauliflower for cream sauces. It takes the place of flour,heavy cream/milk and butter (roux) which is the base for all cream sauces. Just think of the possibilites. Guilt free chicken pot pies with a cauliflower crusty top and using it as cream sauce base with added chicken broth and chicken and veggies. How about Alfredo sauce. And let me get back tot he pasta. "macaroni" and cheese (fat free of course), spaghetti (yes with meatballs), its endless! I have also figured out how to alter mexican foods and can do other things if I set my mind to it.

    http://www.house-foods.com/tofu_shirataki_usa/

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/536767-let-s-talk-about-shirataki-noodle
    (no they do not smell as fishy as the author states, they do have a weird tiny odor. I was expecting to be blown away by it but nope not that bad)

    http://pinchofyum.com/creamy-cauliflower-sauce

    Feel free to add me or email me about any questions or more ideas!

    Enjoy and happy eating.
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    I found that any meals I make are great as long as you control the portion size - you can have lasagne maybe cut back on the cheese a bit but I use full fat cheese and my regular meat sauce when I make it - I just control the portion size - if you think the portion looks too small add your side of salad or steamed or roasted veg.

    Soups and Stews are usually pretty low cal - I know you said you look at soups as a side but a double portion of soup is still relatively low cal depending on what kind of soup. The only thing I really watch for in soups and stews is the sodium count - use the no salt added or low sodium stock.

    Enjoy your food! :drinker:
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    Pick the foods that you like, and have a small portion of them. Just fit it into your calorie deficit. There's no reason to give up foods you like, just go for smaller portions. You'll be more successful in the long run if you don't try to deprive yourself.
  • nomad1000
    nomad1000 Posts: 206 Member
    H and I recently got the cookbook "Comfort Food Makeovers" from America's Test Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Makeovers-Editors-Americas-Kitchen/dp/193649342X)

    We have made a couple of the recipes and been impressed with the results. It doesn't give complete nutritional info but each recipe does have the cals and fat.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    Go out and find Tofu Shirataki noodles! I made easy goulash with them and was like omfg happy. The whole meal was 222 calories. And yes I used real ground chuck. I didnt skimp on anything but the pasta. With those noodles you can enjoy pasta dishes again and not feel guilty. Also look into using cooked and pureed cauliflower for cream sauces. It takes the place of flour,heavy cream/milk and butter (roux) which is the base for all cream sauces. Just think of the possibilites. Guilt free chicken pot pies with a cauliflower crusty top and using it as cream sauce base with added chicken broth and chicken and veggies. How about Alfredo sauce. And let me get back tot he pasta. "macaroni" and cheese (fat free of course), spaghetti (yes with meatballs), its endless! I have also figured out how to alter mexican foods and can do other things if I set my mind to it.

    http://www.house-foods.com/tofu_shirataki_usa/

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/536767-let-s-talk-about-shirataki-noodle
    (no they do not smell as fishy as the author states, they do have a weird tiny odor. I was expecting to be blown away by it but nope not that bad)

    http://pinchofyum.com/creamy-cauliflower-sauce

    Feel free to add me or email me about any questions or more ideas!

    Enjoy and happy eating.

    Just try one small package first. I tried them and had to throw the meal I made and the entire package away. I could not get past the consistency and the texture. It was horrible just to have them in my mouth, much less chew on them. They are not like regular pasta noodles.
  • animalldy
    animalldy Posts: 140 Member
    Eat your favorite comfort food in reasonable portions, and fit it into your calorie goal.

    Deprivation can lead to bingeing.

    Agreed! I make a lot of lightened up comfort food from scratch (or semi-homemade). Lasagna, biscuits & gravy, meatloaf, shepard's pie, chicken parm, enchiladas, bbq chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese, etc... I've become a good cook since embarking on my weight loss, we eat normal food and its a lot healthier than eating out.
  • JDubIsShrinking
    JDubIsShrinking Posts: 207 Member
    Check out www.skinnytaste.com
    GREAT lightened up recipes... many of which I would consider total comfort food.
  • animalldy
    animalldy Posts: 140 Member
    Check out www.skinnytaste.com
    GREAT lightened up recipes... many of which I would consider total comfort food.

    One of my favorite recipe sites!
  • zeal26
    zeal26 Posts: 602 Member
    I make Skinnytaste's Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese all the time and always have portions in the freezer. http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/09/skinny-baked-broccoli-macaroni-and.html

    Skinnytaste has loads of light comfort foods. I've liked most of what I've made from her site, except her soups.
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    I enjoy a lot of different Indian dishes as my comfort foods, but really, if you weigh and measure your portions, you can fit any regular comfort food into your calories.
  • SusanL222
    SusanL222 Posts: 585 Member
    I think you're asking about main dish comfort foods, but......when I think of a comfort food, I think of baked custard....made with milk, eggs and some sweetener ( I use maple syrup.....the kind that comes from the tree :wink: ). You could also try this for a main dish: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1019685-we-love-fantastic-feta-chickpea-casserole?hl=fantastic+feta#posts-15630643
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
    Another vote from me for Skinnytaste.com! Eating Well also has a lot of great simple recipes.

    Chili is one of my favorite comfort foods--I make a spicy vegetarian chili that is nothing but vegetables and beans, so I can add cheese and sour cream and some chips and still keep calories low. I'm a meat lover but don't miss the meat at all.
  • JackieO524
    JackieO524 Posts: 25 Member
    I am a gravy girl. Meat and Potatoes with gravy to be exact ;) - One of my fave comfort food meals is mashed cauliflower with smart balance and garlic (in place of mashed potatoes) and a hamburger steak made with extra lean (96/4) ground beef with grilled onions and mushroom caps - and of course, beef gravy. Not too crazy, low carb and cures my comfort food need.
  • Aviendha_RJ
    Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
    I tend to eat strawberries and blueberries by the POUND if I'm upset and want to binge.

    I've eaten an entire 2lb tray of strawberries in one sitting before. About 200 calories!
  • stefsc1
    stefsc1 Posts: 77 Member
    My favorite soup is this Loaded Baked Potato Soup: http://centercutcook.com/ultimate-loaded-baked-potato-soup/

    I swap out half of the milk for chicken broth to reduce calories and add flavor, and also reduce the butter from 2/3 cup to 1/2 cup. It works out to about 280 calories per cup of soup for me!
  • Mangopickle
    Mangopickle Posts: 1,509 Member
    Farinata, you can get the recipe at Food wishes .com. Indian dals are wonderful and eat like a meal. I love manjula's kitchen on YouTube. Her recipe for mixed dal is a family staple. All of the winter squashes are divine when topped with a little garlic butter. As are roasted root vegetables seasoned with EVOO and herbs de Provence. Roasted chickpeas yummy as well.
  • ils_1231
    ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
    I think there are two ways to go about this :

    1) what someone else said -- get the comfort food but eat less. maybe supplement with salad, etc to sort of bulk up the meal if that portion isn't doing it for you

    2) this might sacrifice a bit of the flavour but just switch out stuff you know you can switch out -- i made a spinach lasagna the other night and used 1% milk and part skim cheese for the sauce. NO ONE had any idea, because i bumped up the other flavours using wine, onion and shallots. the other night i made skinny taste butternut squash enchiladas with whole wheat tortillas -- i did fudge the recipe a bit ( so my version was a bit more fatty), but everyonnnnnne loved it and everyone was stuffed.

    you can buy a book or watch the tv program " cook yourself thin" -- i think thats what its called. they basically revamp comfort food dishes. it won't be the same at the butter laden, heavy dish you know, but it's a close second.
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    Plain baked sweet potato makes me feel comforted and loved!:smooched:

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