{"id":46314,"date":"2015-12-18T11:15:42","date_gmt":"2015-12-18T16:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=46314"},"modified":"2021-05-13T09:41:26","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T13:41:26","slug":"healthy-comfort-food-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/recipes\/healthy-comfort-food-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Comfort Food Recipes (Without All the Carbs)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"12<\/p>\n

Comfort food is nothing short of delicious \u2014 after all, it is by definition the dishes that make you nostalgic for years past, especially your childhood. But something you may not realize about comfort food? It\u2019s also characterized with a heavy load of carbohydrates<\/a>, sugar and fat \u2014 which can send your daily recommended intake way out of whack.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 5 Healthy Fast Food Breakfasts for Crazy-Busy Mornings<\/a><\/p>\n

But the good news is that we\u2019ve found 12 ways to lighten up some of your favorite classics, including chili<\/a>, fries<\/a> and pasta<\/a>. Oh, and of course some dessert<\/a>, too. Whip up one (or a few) of these comfort food recipes this week for seven days\u2019 worth of healthier eats.<\/p>\n

Comfort Food Recipes: Starters and Snacks Menu<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Healthy<\/p>\n

1. Vegan Artichoke Dip
\n<\/a><\/strong>It tastes just like your favorite restaurant-style, everyone-gets-a-bite appetizer dip, but is significantly lower in calories and fat because it\u2019s dairy-free. Instead, white beans lend the appetizer its creamy texture; garlic, shallots and lemons give its delicious taste. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Healthy<\/p>\n

2. Spicy Sweet Potato Fries with Avocado Dip
\n<\/a><\/strong>Baking these sweet potatoes saves you a ton of fat (instead of employing the use of a deep fryer), but the end product is just as tasty. Plus, it\u2019s antioxidant packed with vitamins A and C, too. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Comfort Food Recipes: Main Dishes Menu<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Turkey<\/p>\n

3. Turkey Chili
\n<\/a><\/strong>Serve up a warm bowl of this chili for a crowd-pleasing meal. Skip the sour cream and shredded cheese, instead, try Daiya Vegan Shreds<\/a> and a dollop of Greek yogurt<\/a> for a similar taste but significantly less fat. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 7 Healthy Bowls of Chili to Keep You Cozy All Winter Long<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Oven-Fried<\/p>\n

4. Crispy Oven \u201cFried\u201d Chicken
\n<\/a><\/strong>Without even thinking, you can save 150 calories and 10 grams of fat per drumstick by removing the skin, coating the chicken in gluten-free corn flakes and using olive oil cooking spray. Done and done, right? Photo and recipe: Carmen Sturdy \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Mac<\/p>\n

5. Protein-Packed Mac and Cheese
\n<\/a><\/strong>Don\u2019t knock this trick \u2018til you try it, but the best way to make good old mac and cheese better may surprise you: The addition of eggs. It cuts down on the carbs and adds protein plus vitamins like biotin to the classic crowd-pleasing dish. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Black<\/p>\n

6. Vegetarian Black Bean Burgers
\n<\/a><\/strong>There\u2019s nothing like a juicy burger, but when you\u2019re looking to lighten things up a ground-beef patty isn\u2019t the place to start. (Especially keeping last summer\u2019s recall<\/a> in mind.) And with black beans, you\u2019ll get just as much protein, but without the saturated fat. Score! Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 9 Healthy Dinner Recipes for #MeatlessMonday<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Healthy<\/p>\n

7. Healthier Grilled Cheese
\n<\/a><\/strong>If grilled cheese doesn\u2019t bring you back to your lunchbox days, we\u2019re not sure what will. But thanks to sprouted whole-grain bread, low-fat cheese and a handful of greens<\/a>, you\u2019ve also got a ton of nutrients, which is nothing but adult-like. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Zucchini<\/p>\n

8. Zucchini Noodles and Meatballs
\n<\/a><\/strong>Ahhh, zoodles<\/a>: They\u2019re the greatest thing since sliced bread. Kinda literally. Using the veggie in place of pasta ups the fiber content, plus adds a hit of folate, which supports metabolism, and magnesium, which plays a major role in sleep<\/a>, too. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Low-Carb<\/p>\n

9. Low-Carb BLT
\n<\/a><\/strong>This carb-free wrap showcases what we love most about BLTs: bacon! Swapping mayo for a slice of avocado and hard-boiled egg replaces the spread\u2019s bad fats with good ones, and the lettuce wrap circumvents the need for bread altogether. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Mini<\/p>\n

10. Mini Meatloafs
\n<\/a><\/strong>Just like Mom made them, except cuter. More importantly, our version is far healthier by swapping out veal and pork for lean turkey. The bite-sized pieces help keep your portion size in check, too. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Comfort Food Recipes: Dessert Menu<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Protein<\/p>\n

11. Frosty Protein Shake
\n<\/a><\/strong>Remember that fast-food shake you\u2019d get as a kid? This is the adult version, souped up with our plant-based Fuel-6 protein powder<\/a>. With a potassium-rich banana<\/a> plus a few other basics, dessert is done. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Molten<\/p>\n

12. Chocolate Molten Lava Cake
\n<\/a><\/strong>Believe it: This gluten-free<\/a>, five-minute microwave <\/em>mug cake is under 300 calories per serving, making it a ridiculously satisfying treat that equals a fraction of its less-healthy predecessor. The secret ingredient? Fuel-6<\/a>, of course. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Comfort food is good, but healthier comfort food is even better. Here, a week\u2019s worth (at least!) of lower-carb recipes to enjoy \u2014 with room to spare for dessert. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[423,428,425,27,424,9],"tags":[33,39,155,51,222,151,341,357],"class_list":["post-46314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breakfast","category-dessert","category-dinner","category-healthy","category-lunch","category-recipes","tag-breakfast","tag-dessert","tag-dinner","tag-food-choices","tag-low-carb","tag-lunch","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2running"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46314\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}