4 Guilt-Free Comfort Foods: Healthy, Fun & Fast

The AP Team on October 5, 2017

Welcome to Community Voices! With these special blog posts, we’re very excited to welcome a handful of health enthusiasts from the Activation Family to share their experiences and some of the discoveries they’ve made on their own personal journeys to better health. We hope you’ll be able to connect, relate and grow alongside our community writers.

Have you ever smelled food cooking and had it make you feel instantly nostalgic, warm and cozy and most importantly, made you hungry?

I don’t know about you guys, but the foods I crave most often are comfort foods. “Comfort food” can mean many things, but I’ll try to define it for you.

A comfort food typically soothes or comforts someone after, say, a tough day or when they’re feeling low. Often this food takes you back to simpler times, like your childhood.

Many people associate the term “comfort food” with delicious home cooking so it can vary a lot from culture to culture and person to person, depending on what you ate as a kid. Since everyone’s early experiences are different, the specifics can vary a lot.

Comfort food is usually linked to happy memories, which is why as (American) adults we often crave foods like extra cheesy macaroni and cheese with a cracker crumble — it’s because they were our favorite things to eat when our lives were a little bit simpler.

For me, homemade shepherd’s pie, mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, poutine and shortbread cookies at Christmas are my go-to comfort foods. Now, when I have a tough week, I look to those foods to bring me the comfort and happiness I seek.

The problem with comfort foods, especially if you’re trying to maintain a healthy diet, is that they’re often packed with refined carbohydrates, sugar and saturated fat which ultimately lead to extremely high-calorie or otherwise unhealthy meals. Comfort foods may be good for your soul, but they may not be great for your overall health, especially if you’re eating them too frequently or in large portions.

What should you do, then, if you find you’re constantly craving your favorite cheese-filled casserole, but don’t want to ruin the healthy eating kick you may be on?

Recently, I had this exact problem. I love comfort foods and found I was craving my favorites all the time. I knew, though, that eating them whenever I craved them wasn’t exactly the healthiest choice.

So, I decided to search for some healthy alternatives to the comfort foods I loved. I figured that there must be a way for me to get the same comforting, great tastes while toning down some of the unhealthy features of my favorites.

Turns out, I was right. I’ve found a few delicious alternatives that can satisfy my cravings for comfort foods, but don’t throw health out the window.

Instead of macaroni and cheese…

Want to hear some great news? You can make a version of macaroni and cheese that tastes just as good as the original, without any noodles.

Instead, try using blanched cauliflower or broccoli. Since vegetables don’t absorb liquids like noodles do, the biggest difference in the dish is a thicker sauce.

You can still use your favorite sauce recipe, but thickening with flour (or an alternative) is a great way to make sure it’s the proper consistency for broccoli or cauliflower. Some sauce recipes include gelatin for thickening, which (as long as you’re not a vegetarian) can also make the sauce healthier since gelatin is unusually high in amino acids and has benefits for your gut, joints and cognitive health.

It’s also important to note that after blanching, you should move the broccoli or cauliflower to a rimmed baking sheet so the water can escape. You definitely don’t waterlogged vegetables in this dish!

Just like with your original macaroni and cheese recipe, you can layer bread crumbs or crackers on top before baking, making it just as satisfying as your favorite comfort food, but a little healthier.

Love spaghetti? Try zoodles

I know what you’re thinking. ‘Zoodles’ sounds a bit weird, right? They’re actually noodles made of zucchini and they’re super delicious.

Zoodles look just like noodles, but with a bit more of a crunch. I find that zoodles take on the taste of whatever sauce you make them with, which makes them incredibly versatile, as well as healthy.

After washing your zucchini thoroughly, the Paleo Power Couple recommends using a “mandolin slicer, a julienne peeler or just a regular peeler to make zoodles.” You can also use a specialized spiralizer to make them into the perfect noodle size.

In terms of prep, zoodles can be boiled, baked, simmered in sauce or sautéed. No matter how you cook them, it’s important not to overcook zoodles, as they can get mushy fast.

When it comes to sauce, any healthy pasta sauce can go with your bowl of zoodles. Marinara and alfredo sauces or pestos work well. You can use zoodles in your favorite Asian noodle dishes too or soups, or even eat them raw as part of a salad.

Is pizza your go-to for comfort? Try cauliflower pizza

Who knew you could make pizza healthy? I sure didn’t, but it’s definitely nice to have the option when I’m craving a slice.

Making pizza with a cauliflower crust, according to Food Network, is actually easier than making traditional pizza crust because it doesn’t require any kneading and you don’t have to wait for the dough to rise.

You’re telling me I can get my pizza fix at home faster than if I were to make a traditional pizza? Sign me up!

The cauliflower should be roughly chopped, then put into a food processor until the pieces are fine, almost rice textured. After you’ve got the right consistency, add your choice of seasonings. Add egg to the mixture and pull the mixture into a ball. It’s as easy as that.

For more specific instructions, Green Kitchen Stories have a great recipe for you to try.

Craving peanut butter cups? Try my very own healthy alternative

I love a good peanut butter cup. Packaged chocolate peanut butter cups are extremely high in calories, packed with sugar and most contain hydrogenated vegetable oil (i.e. trans fats) which are terrible for your heart.

So, I’ve come up with an alternative! While my recipe isn’t completely healthy, it’s still better for you than store-bought peanut butter cups. Making your own allows you to completely control what you’re putting into your body while snacking on a delicious treat.

I’ve actually put a bit of a seasonal twist on the traditional peanut butter cup, by adding some pumpkin. Chia seeds make the filling creamy, without any scary trans fats (while adding fiber and nutrition!).

Click here to see the video and get the recipe for my Pumpkin Peanut Butter cups!

What are your comfort foods? Do you have any tricks for making them healthier? I want to hear all about your favorite comfort food memories!

Guest Blogger: Molly Kett.

Molly is a 23-year-old writer for Activation Products, with a passion for natural health. In her spare time, Molly enjoys hiking, camping, reading and attempting DIY projects. She looks forward to sharing her how-to skills and bringing you new recipes and wellness activities to try. Her favorite Activation Products include Coriander Oil, Styrian Pumpkin Oil and Black Cumin Oil.

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