Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- We’ve become more health-oriented these days, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite treats.
As the weather gets colder we may reach for food as comfort, like spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese, or chili. Comfort foods are more about the heart than they are about hunger.
American Dietetic Association spokesperson Marisa Moore says that comfort foods are often high in fat, calories or sodium and eating too much of them can lead to weight gain, diabetes and heard disease.
Moore offers these tips to make your own healthy comfort foods. The idea is to make sure that it has a good nutritional profile, so it feeds all of the senses, as well as the body.
Moore says to substitute low fat milk for whole milk and add vegetables to whatever it is you’re making. Instead of using beef, try using lean ground turkey. Also, consider using spaghetti squash in place of pasta. Each of these things can help cut calories, without sacrificing taste.
