Comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, chicken soup or apple pie are called comfort foods because they are the first types of foods that we seek out when we are feeling blue. And while these foods do a terrific job of making us feel better and temporarily lift our spirits, most comfort foods, while good for our emotional health have quite the opposite effect on our physical health. Comfort foods tend to be high in calories, high and fat and high in cholesterol however; there are many healthy, alternative ways to make the comfort foods that we enjoy. Here are just a few delicious ways to make your favorite comfort foods healthier without sacrificing taste:

Change the Consistency of High Fat High Calorie Foods-

Some comfort foods like stews and soups have thick, rich bases. But these thick bases that we find so delicious are laden with fat and empty calories. There are many substitutes that can be used to replace unhealthy ingredients in soups and stews that taste just as good as the unhealthy, classic ingredients. Instead of preparing stews with red meat try replacing the meat with beans. Beans are low in calories and cholesterol and they are an excellent source of protein and fiber.

Chowder and cream soups often have rich and creamy bases made from milk and butter. A good substitute for a milk base found in most chowder is pureed vegetables. Pureed vegetables will have the consistency of a thick, milk base and the flavor of the vegetables will put a delicious twist on many classic soups. Potatoes make an excellent chowder base when they are boiled and pureed. Potatoes are high in fiber, vitamin C, and water. A potato is 70%-80% water so the idea that potatoes make you gain weight is a popular misconception.

Different Cheese Please!-

Many classic comfort foods contain cheese and while cheese is healthy in some ways, cheese is also high in fat and cholesterol. There are some types of cheese that are healthier than others and can be used as substitutes for higher calorie cheeses. Goat cheese, farmer's cheese and parmesan are low in fat and high in nutrition. Vegetarian cheeses may also be substituted for the traditional cheeses found in comfort foods. Vegetarian cheese is made from soy and melts just as well as traditional cheese with less fat and calories and vegetarian cheese has no cholesterol.

Trim the Excess-

Trimming the fat off of meats and removing the skin from poultry will considerably lessen the fat and cholesterol content of your favorite comfort food dish. Selecting low fat meats such as ground turkey instead of hamburger and selecting boneless, skinless chicken breasts at the market will save you this step in preparation at home.

Trimming the excess may also mean cutting down on portions. In North America portions have become so large that Americans are suffering the ill health effects of living this lifestyle for so long. We have become used to being served large meals at restaurants and we continue the trend at home. Most Americans don't need such big portions and may be able to enjoy their favorite comfort foods more often if they learn to cut down on their portions at home.

It's great news that comfort foods don't have to be taken out of our diets altogether. These great alternatives and new ways of preparation will allow us to come home and continue to indulge in our favorite classic comfort foods in order to ease away our blues.

Learn more about this author, Denise Calaman.
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