Give Comfort Food a Healthy Makeover

Everyday Health

They call it comfort food for a reason - you feel good when you eat the foods you love! Unfortunately, a lot of those dishes are packed full of calories, fat, and cholesterol. Rather than giving up your favorite recipes, try making healthy substitutions - you'll maintain the flavor and a healthy diet.

1. Peach Cobbler

Fruit cobblers are a great dessert. The secret to keeping calories and cholesterol low is in how you prepare the batter - only a little margarine is necessary, and you'll never miss the eliminated sugar with sweet peaches to fill the void.

Try Everyday Health's 1-2-3 Peach Cobbler
271 calories; 4 grams of fat; .5 mg cholesterol

2. BBQ Chicken

Barbecued chicken can be made year-round - either on the grill or under the broiler. Some recipes call for oil, while others call for salty condiments, but you can create a tangy marinade without adding fat or sodium. Our recipe is simple but results in savory, succulent chicken.

Try Everyday Health's Barbecued Chicken
176 calories; 6 grams of fat; 240 mg sodium

3. Macaroni & Cheese

A great way to reduce the calories and fat in this classic dish is to use lower-fat dairy products and ditch the cholesterol-rich butter. Adding onion and black pepper will give this Mac & Cheese even more flavor!

Try Everyday Health's Classic Macaroni and Cheese
200 calories; 4 grams of fat; 120 mg sodium

4. French Fries

Baking fries in the oven instead of frying them in oil significantly reduces fat and calories. Instead of consuming 500+ calories, you can savor a serving of fries for fewer than 250. Use salt-free spices to give your fries a real kick!

Try Everyday Health's Delicious Oven French Fries
238 calories, 163 mg sodium; 4 grams of fat

5. Garlic Mashed Potatoes

It's easy to get carried away when adding butter and salt to plain potatoes - which is also an easy way to ratchet up your fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake! Instead, use fat-free milk and fresh garlic to make savory, creamy mashed potatoes.

Try Everyday Health's Garlic Mashed Potatoes
142 calories; .5 gram of fat; 69 mg sodium

For more healthy twists on your favorite comfort foods, visit EverydayHealth.com.

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