Comfort Foods Made Healthy

Slow Cooker Spicy Southwest Beef and Bean Chili-020

As the weather gets cooler, our cravings for warm, hearty comfort foods kick in. From hot soups and thick stews to creamy casseroles and cheesy pastas, these winter favourites aren’t always kind to our waistline.

Thankfully, your cold-weather cravings don’t have to mean ditching your New Year’s resolutions. Here are four classic comfort foods made with a balanced diet in mind.

Turkey and Wild Rice Soup: Whip up this soup and have a protein-packed and hearty meal that you can enjoy throughout the workweek – and it won’t derail your goals, either.

Spicy Parmesan Meatballs with Spaghetti: There’s nothing quite as comforting as a heaping plate of spaghetti and homemade meatballs. This winter, take the healthier route and make our meatballs with high-fibre cereal instead of bread crumbs and use whole wheat pasta for a dish that is as healthy as it is satisfying.

Slow Cooker Spicy Southwest Beef and Bean Chili: Thick and chunky chili is just what everyone wants when the temperature drops. With beef and beans giving each bowl a double punch of protein, this is perfect for lunch and it will keep you full until dinnertime. Healthy hint: Look for low-sodium canned ingredients to make this recipe even better for you.

Apple-Cinnamon Butternut Squash Soup: Here’s a winter-worthy soup that blends the tartness of apples, the warmth of cinnamon and the sweetness of butternut squash for a resolution-friendly soup that doesn’t compromise on flavour.