The perfect comfort food can warm you up on a cold winter day, bring you back to the nostalgia of your favorite childhood dishes, and provide you with a moment of happiness while you eat. Think mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, chili, creamy soup, casseroles, and a grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. Comfort foods are usually high in calories, fat, and sodium—and let’s be honest, it’s one of the things that makes them so comforting. But if you’re looking for more nutritious versions of your favorite comfort dishes because you’re trying to lose weight or pursue a similar health goal, you’re in luck, because we’ve rounded up some healthier comfort food dishes to eat for weight loss.
Multiple factors can help make a good “weight loss meal.” For starters, something higher in protein can help you feel more satiated and can help boost your metabolism. Including fiber in your meal can also help you feel more satiated while helping to improve digestive health as well. Lastly, cutting some of the calories in your dish can help you with your weight loss goals, as long as you are still getting enough of the calories your body needs throughout the day and aren’t restricting too much.
With these factors in mind, we’ve rounded up 45 cozy comfort foods you can warm up to this winter while you’re pursuing a goal of losing weight. Read on, then check out 15 Best High-Protein Foods for Weight Loss.
Spicy Macaroni and Cheese
When we hear comfort food, we think of mac and cheese. So naturally, we had to make a few healthy versions of it! You can make it spicy with canned jalapeños or skip for a mild option.
