5 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes For Winter

When winter comes around, the days get shorter, the weather gets colder and the food gets richer. Every winter holiday is celebrated with a smorgasbord of carbs, sugar and fat that makes you feel like you should order your eggnog with a side of detox for gas and bloating.

It’s possible to enjoy food that is both healthy and satisfying. With simple swaps, you can modify any hearty dish into a mouthwatering version that doesn’t leave you reaching for your stretchy pants.

Top Healthy Ingredients For Winter

Make like a squirrel and stock up for winter. Having healthy ingredients on hand ensures you can whip up a nutritional dish anytime. Here’s a list of winter superfoods to shop for:

• Winter squash
• Kale
• Citrus fruits
• Brussel sprouts
• Fennel
• Parsnips
• Pomegranates
• Beets
• Broccoli

Preparing Heart-Warming Meals For the Whole Family

While a winter storm is swirling outside, cook up your own storm in the kitchen with these five healthy takes on favorite comfort foods:

1. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is notoriously high in fat, carbs and sodium. This recipe solves that problem by halving the cheese, subbing gluten-free pasta and adding butternut squash.

Cook the pasta and mix pureed butternut squash into the cheese sauce. Coat the pasta in the sauce and bake. The end result is an absolute delight!

2. Verde Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Forego canned soup and fried onions for ingredients that pack a nutritional punch. This recipe incorporates the colors of the rainbow with pinto beans, shredded cheese, corn, poblano peppers and red onions. Spinach, salsa verde and cilantro add extra “verde” to the dish.

To make, sauté the veggies and stir in the beans, shredded chicken and salsa. Layer tortillas, the chicken mixture and cheese. Repeat twice. Cover, bake and enjoy!

3. Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

Soup lovers can enjoy all the creamy goodness of this dish which features several healthy substitutions such as coconut oil for butter and wild rice for instant rice. It’s also loaded with veggies—carrots, celery, onion and mushrooms.

Bonus: This soup is made using only one pot.

4. Lentil Baked Ziti

One could argue that it’s impossible to eat a small serving of baked ziti. Pile it on and the next thing you know, you need a Mega Clean detox just to move again.

This recipe follows the same steps as traditional baked ziti with one additional ingredient —lentils—which make you feel full sooner.

5. Prosciutto, Kale and Butter Bean Stew

The choice of carbs and protein makes the difference between a healthy and unhealthy stew.

Prosciutto is a healthier alternative to bacon. Toss it in with butter beans, kale, cherry tomatoes and a few spices and in less than 25 minutes, you’ll have a delicious stew.

Cozying Up With Winter Libations

From mulled cider to hot toddies, winter cocktails are made for sipping by a fire. If you end up going overboard, you can curb the dreaded hangover symptoms. The best way to detox after drinking is to use a cleanse that flushes your system of harmful toxins and replaces them with essential vitamins and nutrients.

Make “comfort” your winter theme by having cleanses available if a meal does give you discomfort. Stay warm and beat those winter blues!