Indulgent in taste and light in calories! What's better?
When you’re having a craving for something carby, cheesy, hearty, or saucy, you’re sure to down some serious calories. And while there’s nothing quite like food for the soul, weight loss and comfort food doesn’t go hand in hand. Unless you take advantage of comfort food dinners under 299 calories.
What can be hard to remember about losing weight and keeping it off is that deprivation is your arch nemesis. Sometimes you do just need that bowl of pasta, that slice of pizza, that burrito.
But eating comfort food regularly isn’t going to make you feel good—if you choose the processed options, and the items that take simple carbohydrates and bad fats to the next level.
But not all comfort food is created equal. There are, indeed, many options for enjoying comfort food the right way. You can still slurp on noodles if you choose the right kind, and with the right mix and amount of ingredients.
Saying no to pizza, lasagna, and enchiladas, for instance, isn’t likely to make you crave them any less, and might even cause you to overdo it each time you indulge.
Next time comfort food is on the brain, simply swap out what you want for upgraded versions, like these comfort food dinners under 299 calories.
1. Chicken and Black Bean Chili
A steaming bowl of bubbling chili is a surefire way to indulge in your comfort food craving. This version scales back on the calories by using low-fat and low-calorie ingredients that make for a savory dish that will warm your soul.
With spices like cumin, jalapeno, and ancho chili powder, and with fire roasted tomatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, bell pepper, and fresh cilantro, this might become your new favorite chili recipe! One serving has a mere 266 calories.
2. Slow Cooker Cheesy Spinach Lasagna
Ooey gooey saucey lasagna is hard to pass up, but if you want a healthier version, be it for weight loss or weight management, then you absolutely have to try this slow cooker cheesy spinach lasagna.
Can you believe that, with four kinds of cheese incorporated, this dish has a mere 269 calories per serving? Now that’s a comfort food you can celebrate.
But how can it be? Thanks to healthier cheese options likereduced fat ricotta cheese, low-fat cottage cheese, part skim mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese, along with whole wheat lasagna noodles, you’ll be able to enjoy this comfort food guilt free.
3. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
Many Mexican food dishes fall into the comfort food category, and you’d be hard-pressed to find enchiladas in a category ofcomfort food dinners under 299 calories.
But with this upgraded version, you can have your saucy, cheesy enchiladas and eat them too! Using wheat tortillas, fat-free cheese, and sour cream, every bite will taste just like everything you hoped for, without the unnecessary calories.
Packed with flavor, it will be hard to believe this filling meal has less than 250 calories per serving.
4. Crockpot Loaded Creamy Corn Chowder
Anything creamy and warm is a total comfort food staple. Corn chowder may be on your mind, but are you ready to ruin your whole day of eating healthy with something unnecessarily fattening?
Here’s the thing: chowder can actually be considered a “skinny” dish if you do it right. This warm and satisfying crockpot chowder cuts excess fat and calories by substituting almond milk for heavy cream. This swap boosts the protein content while keeping cholesterol to a minimum.
Topped with diced tomato, purple onion, sliced scallions, and reduced-fat cheddar cheese, you can dig into this corn chowder knowing a serving has just 269 calories.
5. Clean Eating Pizza Lasagna Rolls
The idea of combining pizza and lasagna into a roll doesn’t sound so low-calorie, but just here this recipe out.
These clean eating pizza and lasagna rolls will satisfy your need for carby, saucy, cheesy goodness while ensuring you don’t break the calorie bank.
The homemade sauce ensures excess sodium and added sugar are knocked out, while the noodle portion is made ofparmesan cheese,part-skim mozzarella, and whole grain lasagna noodles. The result is a healthy comfort food dish that’s only 232 calories per serving.
6. Barbeque Chicken and Avocado Quesadillas
Mixing classic American fare like barbecue chicken and a Mexican staple like quesadillas sure sounds like a match made in high calorie indulgence, but not this version!
When you want that unique but yummy mix of culture in your food, but would like to keep it under 300 calories, AND are trying to whip something up in a jiff, put this recipe on the menu.
With only five ingredients, all of which pack lots of flavor, you find it to be a crowd pleaser.
This quesadilla offers 271 calories per serving.
7. Pasta with Green Beans and Pesto
Pasta is the ultimate comfort food dish. Whether by itself with butter and salt, or underneath a mount of red sauce and grated cheese, it’s like a lightbulb goes off when someone says the word.
But just like you may not want a whole plate of just vegetables, you really shouldn’t have a bowl of just one food group! Balance is key, especially if you’re looking to lessen your daily calorie count.
This recipe gives you your need for pasta by balancing out the portion size with green beans. Pesto makes for a rich addition that creates the illusion that you’re indulging in something naughty. But you’re not!
This pasta dish has 298 calories per serving, so dig in!
Healthy comfort food is, indeed, a thing. Between portion control and healthy swaps, you will find that a little goes a long way, and there are better ingredients out there that will elevate your dish while also ensuring your weight drops, or stays right where you want it!
So go ahead, scarf down comfort food the right way, putting thesecomfort food dinners under 299 calories at the top of your revamped cravings list.
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