Cooking familiar favorites is a great way to bring comfort and familiarity to your meals, but these dishes are often high in calories and sodium. However, with some creative tweaks, you can make more nutritious alternatives of your favorite comfort foods. Here are some classic comfort foods with a nutritious makeover.

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that's often high in calories from the cheese. To give it a more balanced approach, you can use whole wheat pasta and a combination of reduced-fat dairy like mozzarella and part-skim ricotta. You can also add in some steamed vegetables like broccoli for extra energy. To reduce the fat content even further, try using a mixture of coconut cream and cheese to create a rich glaze.

Chicken pot pie is another homey favorite that's often high in saturated fats from the flaky pastry. To make a more balanced alternative, try using a gluten-free pastry made with olive oil and a combination of low-fat chicken broth and vegetables like carrots. You can also use boneless chicken in place of pork to reduce the salt content. To make the filling even more balanced, try using a mixture of canned beans, and add in some chopped fresh herbs like rosemary.

Meatloaf is a familiar favorite that's often high in saturated fats from the meat. To give it a healthy twist, try using boneless chicken instead of pork, and mix in some finely chopped vegetables like onions. You can also use whole wheat breadcrumbs instead of all-purpose flour to reduce the sodium content. To make it even more balanced, https://egustos.net/en/zucchini-pie-with-cottage-cheese/ try using a mixture of tomato sauce and homemade aioli to add zest without adding extra salt.

Chicken and dumplings is a homey favorite that's often high in calories from the chicken skin. To make a healthier version, try using boneless thighs instead of skin, and mix in some chopped vegetables like celery. You can also make the dumplings healthier by using gluten-free pastry and reducing the added sugars.

Chili is a familiar favorite that's often high in saturated fats from the cheese. To give it a healthy twist, try using boneless chicken instead of pork, and mix in some legumes like onions. You can also use low-sodium tomato sauce and less sugar to reduce the fat content. To make it even healthier, try adding in some beans like kidney beans for extra fiber.

These classic comfort foods with a nutritious makeover offer a delicious and nutritious way to enjoy your favorite dishes without breaking the calorie bank. By making a few simple changes to the dish, you can create more balanced alternatives of your favorite comfort foods that are just as tasty.