24 Jan Healthy Comfort Classics
All year long, there is one type of cuisine that seems to be everyone’s favorite and that is Comfort Food. These are the dishes your Mom or Grandmother would whip-up, which always tasted so good and left you feeling loved at the same time. Adults and children alike devour dishes such as, Mac and Cheese, Lasagna, and Fried Chicken. Even though we love them, we don’t necessarily need or want all of the fat and calories (not to mention cholesterol) that go with them. These classics can and need to be “lightened up,” for the health benefits of ourselves and our loved ones. Let’s keep the flavor, but lose all of the “bad stuff” by using one percent milk in our Mac and Cheese and even add in some vegetables (e.g., cauliflower and squash blend nicely) to keep that creamy consistency we all crave! How about trying my Oven Baked (“Not So”) Fried Chicken? You will not believe how flavorful and crispy it is and definitely will not feel deprived, rather revived after gobbling this yummy dish! Finally, a decadent healthy Lasagna made with ground turkey, lean ground beef or vegetarian if you choose (again using light versions of delicious cheese – even cottage cheese) plus fresh herbs or veggies along with whole wheat pasta! Do not be afraid, it’s delicious and adds so much fiber to your meal while also adding great texture. Time to slip into our skinny jeans Divas without compromising flavor, after all it’s the New Year so let’s “Carpe Diem” and ‘Lighten Up”!!!
