Delicious Can Be Healthy Too
Whether it’s Mom’s famous meatloaf or your very own spin on mac ‘n cheese, we’ve all got our own comfort foods, not all of which are exactly healthy by themselves. However, with a few tweaks here and there, you can easily turn your favorites into bowls of delicious nutrition.
Chicken Noodle Soup
If you’ve ever had to come up with meals both on the fly and on a budget, you’ve no doubt gotten a good taste of chicken noodle soup before. Not only is it simple and easy to make, it’s also got plenty of healthy properties, including an abundance of protein.
Lentil Curry
Lentil curry is a great meal for vegetarians who like their greens with a little extra spice. It’s made from a variety of vegetables, aromatic spices, and - you guessed it - lentils. Stir it up with some coconut milk-based sauce, and you’ve got a vegetarian-friendly bowl of flavor and nutrients.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Your relationship with broccoli may or may not be a tenuous one, but we were probably all made to eat it at one point in our lives or another. Combine it with some low-fat milk and a zesty cheddar cheese, and you’re left with a soup that’s rich in calcium and vitamin C.
Sweet Potato (and Black Bean Chili)
Ever eat a potato and think, “This is great, but it would be even better if it were sweeter”? Boy, do we have the food for you. Sweet potatoes pair great with black bean chili to create a dish that’s not only delicious but also packed with fiber and protein.
Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup may just be the definition of a “meal on a budget”; that is to say, it’s the kind of dish we’d imagine Elmer Fudd would eat during a particularly brutal winter. Still, it’s an easy dish and one that you can easily add a bit more flavor and complexity to, not to mention its health properties.
Mac ’n Cheese
You can’t beat the classics. Mac ‘n Cheese is a staple dish pretty much wherever you go in the Western world, and while it’s not necessarily the pinnacle of healthy foods, it’s something you can enhance with a bit of broccoli and spinach for some added nutrients.
Parmesan Orzo
You may not know what orzo is by its name alone, but you’ll probably recognize it by sight. It’s basically rice-shaped pasta, and it’s easy to prepare as a one-pot dish. Top it off with some parmesan and a few spring vegetables, and you’ve got a pretty healthy meal on your hands.
Lasagna (with Vegetables)
Call us a fat orange tabby because we hate Mondays and love lasagna. Now, to be fair, the lasagna that that silly old cat eats isn’t necessarily healthy, but you can prepare yours with layers of ricotta cheese, whole wheat noodles, and veggies to make it a bit healthier.
Confetti Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a childhood staple for many, the cornerstone of many great dishes, but it’s not exactly healthy - or colorful - by itself. This dish uses a combination of colorful veggies to make things more exciting and nutritious.
Vegan Mac ‘n Cheese
The beauty of macaroni and cheese is that it really is a dish for everywhere, including vegans. You just need to prepare it a little differently, specifically with cashews and nutritional yeast to give you that creamy, cheesy texture.
Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is a classic comfort meal, both warm and flavorful in equal measure. If you’re looking to make it healthier, try preparing yours with lentils, seasonal vegetables, and a creamy cauliflower topping, all for some extra fiber and protein.
Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff originated in Russia, but it’s spread worldwide and become a comfort dish for many. It’s pretty heavy, though, with its extra creamy sauce and lean beef, so if you want to make it a little lighter (and healthier), try it with high-protein noodles, coconut-based sauce, and mushrooms instead of beef.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs are right up there with macaroni and cheese when it comes to the most iconic food duos. Making this dish healthier is as simple as using popeye meatballs, which are packed with vegetables and no less delicious for it.
Meatloaf
Meatloaf is one of those childhood dishes that you may have despised at the time but is now a welcome reminder of home. By itself, meatloaf isn’t anything to write home about healthwise, but prepare it with some lentils, and you’ve got yourself a super nutritious dish on your hands.
Baked Ziti
You can’t go wrong with pasta of any kind, really. There’s just something so comforting about it. However, this baked ziti dish swaps out noodles for cauliflower instead and is made with a little more vegetables than you may be used to, ultimately resulting in a dish that is no less delicious than the original - while being far healthier.
Burger and Fries
Is there anything better than a good burger and fries? It’s not just a staple - it’s an institution. Now, let’s face it: burgers and fries aren’t the healthiest things on the planet, but if you’re willing to use a veggie patty and some sweet potatoes instead, you can transform this beloved classic into something pretty nutritious.
Pizza
Beloved by mutant turtles, frat bros, and pretty much everyone else, pizza is the ultimate party dish. It’s not healthy by itself, but you can experiment with more nutritious toppings and prepare the crust with eggplant instead of something so carb-heavy.
Chicken Stir Fry
Stir fry always seems like something of a catch-all dish, a bunch of ingredients tossed into a pot and stirred together to make something delicious. To enhance its health properties, be sure to prepare yours with extra veggies, but don’t be afraid to include chicken as well.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka masala is especially popular in countries where cold weather is the norm, especially due to its use of hot, aromatic spices. You can make yours lighter by preparing it with some Greek yogurt and a lean chicken breast for some added protein while still keeping that delicious flavor in check.
Vegetarian Bolognese
Bolognese is pretty much an essential sauce to have in your repertoire, but if you have vegetarian guests or just want to make it healthier for yourself, try preparing yours with lentils and veggies for some extra protein.
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
The casserole is a staple of family gatherings, but while you could settle for your normal broccoli cheese casserole, why not make yours a little healthier instead by using a protein-heavy quinoa instead of rice; cheddar cheese; and a homemade sauce.
Mashed Potatoes
One of two primary ingredients in the old bangers and mash combo, mashed potatoes are moderately healthy, but if you want something even more nutritious, try… ditching the potatoes altogether and mashing cauliflower instead. It works just as well.
Tacos
Tacos are super popular, and typically made with a crunchy tortilla wrap that keeps you coming back for more. Unfortunately, it’s not super healthy by itself, but you can make something taco-adjacent by simply swapping the tortillas for a zucchini wrap or zucchini boats instead.
Enchiladas
Enchiladas are an easy crowd-pleaser, but if you’re going for something more on the healthy and nutritious side, try serving yours with chicken and a healthy, homemade sauce, or make a sweet potato enchilada bake instead.
Fried Rice
Fried rice is a delicious alternative to regular rice, which can often be bland and uninspiring. That doesn’t exactly make it healthier, however, which is why we’re recommending that you use cauliflower or quinoa fried rice the next time you’re in the mood for something Eastern.
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is synonymous with a certain fast-food chain, so it’s not exactly up there as one of the healthiest foods in the world. However, you can fry your chicken with a cornmeal coating instead, giving it more nutritional value and a twist on the classic taste.
Cookies
Of course, this wouldn’t be a comfort food list if we didn’t include some dessert options as well, and where better to start than cookies? While traditionally baked cookies don’t exactly lend themselves to easy nutrition, peanut butter oatmeal cookies are just as delicious as normal choc-chips.
Lentil and Veggie Stew
Stew is a pretty easy dish to get your head around; you can pretty much boil it down to a bunch of ingredients thrown together and stirred in a pot. For your next stew dish, try preparing it with extra veggies and lentils for some extra protein and other nutrients.
Turkey Meatloaf
Again, we return to that old classic, meatloaf. While there’s nothing wrong with your mom’s meatloaf recipe (we’re sure it’s absolutely delicious), you can easily substitute some ingredients for turkey and mushrooms, which still make it filling but reduce its fat content.
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Bell peppers aren’t really a meal by themselves, but they go great with most dinner dishes. While they’re already pretty healthy, you can make them even healthier and more flavorful by stuffing them with a mix of quinoa, black beans, and vegetables.
Chicken Soup
Soup is probably the definitive comfort meal, especially during the winter months when the belly craves something warm. Try making your next soup with chicken, tomatoes, a hearty sauce of your choosing (preferably homemade), and some shredded tortilla for some extra texture.
Chili
Chili (short for chili con carne) has its origins in Mexico, but it’s become hugely popular around the world as well. While traditionally made with meat, beans, tomatoes, and, of course, chili peppers, you can substitute some ingredients for more veggies.
Fish Pie
Pie is an easy crowd-pleaser - there’s just something so inherently comforting about it. For a healthy alternative, try preparing yours with white fish meat and a homemade creamy sauce, then top it off with some mashed sweet potatoes.
Sloppy Joes
What disaffected American youth isn’t familiar with sloppy joes? While it doesn’t typically get your mouth watering, you can improve your regular sloppy joe recipe with some turkey meat and bell peppers to not only enhance its flavor, but its nutritional value as well.
Sausage Casserole
Finally, we’ll leave you with another crowd-pleaser. For some extra nutritional value in your casserole, try preparing yours with lean sausages and root vegetables, then bake it until it's golden.
