Comfort Foods

If something about these cold days makes you want to curl up with a big bowl of mashed potatoes, you're not alone. Comfort foods are often on our list when the weather turns cool, and they can be good for you if they are prepared correctly. This month, AccentHealth takes a look at how to make nutritious choices.

It may be chilly outside, so a steamy bowl of soup may be just what your body is craving. According to registered dietician Julie Schwartz, "In the fall and winter, when it's getting cold outside, we want heartier foods and foods that are going to keep us warm." She cautions that certain comfort foods are high in fat, calories, and sodium. She explains, "Foods such as mashed potatoes, which is just a classic comfort food, can be made in a very healthful manner. You can cook the potatoes in chicken broth … and then you add that broth back in as the moisture for the potatoes … and they're very, very tasty."

Schwartz recommends making your own soup and stews and watching the salt. Homemade breads can also be very hearty and healthy. She says, "Using half whole-wheat flour and half regular flour is a way to make it a healthier end product without a big change in texture or taste."

She reminds everyone to be sure to watch how much food you put on your plate. Schwartz tells us, "It's about having three to four ounces of pot roast, not eight to twelve ounces of pot roast."

Good tips for warming up without packing on the pounds.
What are your comfort foods? Is it something like a candy bar or is it something like a steak dinner? Researchers at the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University did a survey and found that women prefer snack-related comfort foods like candy and chocolate, while men prefer something that is more meal-related like pizza, pasta, steak, or a casserole.

From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200901/