Take Comfort in these Healthful Comfort Foods

The wintertime can be a tough time to live a healthful lifestyle. It’s cold and dark-not ideal conditions for a walk along the beach. This cold dark time also revs up our primitive desire to hibernate. In the winter months many people have a desire to eat hearty foods for warmth and comfort. These foods, which are often rich in carbohydrates and fat can make you feel better for a little while, but are really only a band-aid. Eating these foods can make you feel better by helping you think of comforting times, but they also have an effect on your brain; after eating these foods your brain releases chemicals that can make you feel happy and content, but once they have make it through your digestive tract the reality of the bleakness of the season will still be there.  One of the best ways to get this feeling of happiness and contentment is to exercise and choose healthful comfort food replacements. Here are a few suggestions for lighter versions of your favorite comfort foods.
 
Mac ’N Cheese
Can be one of the most hearty, yet calorically dense foods of the season,  at 500 calories and 30 grams of fat in one cup of the creamy stuff it can pack a real punch to your arteries and waistline. Make this meal healthier by making it at home using whole wheat pasta, low-fat cheese (or even cottage cheese) and bulking it up with your favorite vegetables.
 
Loaded Baked Potato
Baked potatoes can be a great source of healthful carbohydrates and potassium, but add butter, sour cream and bacon and your once healthy side can turn into an unhealthful catastrophe. The first step toward a healthful baked potato is to make sure that your potato is about the size of a computer mouse. The bigger the potato (and they can get huge) not only will it be more calories, but it is a bigger vehicle for the unhealthful toppings. To lighten these toppings try using low-fat sour cream or cottage cheese, or swap these dairy toppings for a nice light, fresh salsa. You can still enjoy this comfort food but choose what you add to it wisely.
 
Meatloaf
Meatloaf is not only tasty but can bring back memories of the persons who made it best. Traditional meatloaf is made with fatty hamburger meat. Try lightening this recipe up by reducing the red meat and replacing it with healthful fillers like turkey meat, quinoa or bulgur or your favorite fresh or frozen vegetables.