Comfort Food Made Healthy: Our Top Ten Low Calorie Comfort Foods Part 2

Low calorie comfort foods do exist, and we  have compiled a list of our ten favorite comfort foods with tips on how to make them healthier. These tips will help you recreate classic tastes of everyday comfort foods with recipes that are good for you. This great collection of low calorie comfort foods will guide on how everyday comfort foods can satisfy the stomach and soul without disrupting your diet. Comfort foods recipes don't have to be laden with fat and calories.
 

This is part 2 of a two-part series. For part 1, click here.
 

6. Chicken Soup - The best medicine for any illness is this classic comfort food recipe. For any sickness, chicken soup warms up the body and has you feeling better again in no time. However, chicken soup is not always the best for your body as it is often overflowing with excess salt and calories. By making the soup at home, you control the ingredients and what you consume. Homemade soup is greatly improved by adding lots of fresh or frozen veggies, from carrots to celery. Additionally, you can control how much salt you put into the pot if you worry about sodium and hypertension. This recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup with Spinach is a great everyday comfort food choice because it maintains the taste of classic chicken soup while adding additional flavor and nutrients with the spinach.

7. Pizza - This is a go-to comfort food for dinner because everyone loves a good slice of pizza. Usually though, we do not make this comfort food ourselves. Most get it from a restaurant or a chain where it is topped with meat and grease. Lighten up this classic comfort food dinner idea with Healthy Artichoke Heart Pizza, a low cal comfort food recipe. Put vegetables like artichoke hearts on pizza instead of fatty meats to decrease calories and increase the health benefits of this comfort food recipe. Use whole wheat dough instead of white dough as whole wheat dough has more fiber. Top the pizza with reduced fat cheeses to make this comfort food healthier.
 

8. Bacon - Everything tastes better with bacon. Be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this comfort food recipe staple makes almost any dish taste better. However, the high fat content in bacon is what makes it unhealthy and tasty. That distinct smokey flavor is hard to duplicate, but for a lower calorie alternative try turkey bacon. Turkey bacon is leaner and has less calories than traditional bacon, but still has plenty of taste. You will not even notice that this recipe for Pineapple and Turkey Bacon Omelette does not have real bacon. If you just got to have bacon, reach for turkey bacon as a low calorie comfort food alternative.
 

9. Applesauce -Applesauce in little pre-wrapped plastic containers is a sweet childhood staple and a delicious comfort food. While low in fat, most applesauce has high amounts of sugar with little nutritional value to boot. For a healthier version, simply go into your kitchen for some Homemade Applesauce. Fresh apples have plenty of natural sugar, so you do not need to add any granulated sugar to this comfort food made healthy. When cooking the apples, leave the skins on for added fiber and for a more chunky texture.
 

10. Chili - Whether on a cold winter day or while watching a sports game, chili is a great comfort food recipe because it is warm and incredibly filling. A big bowl of chili is an ideal comfort food dinner idea because in one pot you can made a tasty dish everyone can enjoy. Depending on the type of meat used in the chili though, the chili can be full of fat and calories. For a healthier chili, simply add more vegetables than normal and use leaner cuts of meat like chicken breasts over fattier beef cuts. This White Chicken Chili is a great low calorie recipe idea because it has all the flavor of traditional chili just with less fat and calories.