Guilt-free Comfort Foods

This, however, does not mean that you need to give up on your wellness goals. By making simple and thoughtful swaps to your favourite meals, you can eat well, fulfil your cravings, and feel full, energised, and ready to tackle whatever comes your way. 

Wholefood Slurps 

Lasagne, spaghetti, and creamy fettuccine Alfredo… Pasta is a beloved indulgence for many, but it’s not exactly known for being "healthy". Yet, you can greatly boost the nutrition of your meal by swapping out the pasta of the dish for some stringy vegetables. Try pan-frying some julienned zucchini, carrots, and cabbage, or simply cook up some spaghetti squash, before adding your toppings and sauce for a delicious, guilt-free, gluten-free option.

Say Cheese

Sauces are often the hidden saboteurs of a wellness journey as they’re frequently packed with unhealthy fats, calories, and highly processed ingredients. Transform your cheesy sauces with some tofu, seasoning, and nutritional yeast to continue to reach your protein and fibre goals. Alternatively, create an Asian-inspired sauce with some low-sodium soy sauce and nutty tahini or sneak some extra vegetables into your meals by blending some steamed butternut, broccoli or spinach with some mylk for a rich and nutrient-dense sauce.  

Better-for-You Bread

Store-bought bread, needed for delicious PB&Js and hamburgers, is frequently heavily processed and leached of nutrients. However, this doesn’t need to stop you from enjoying your favourite meals. For your next grilled cheese, try swapping out store-bought bread for locally made rye or sourdough - this is a small change that can offer you much more nourishment and can boost your healthy gut biome. If you're feeling adventurous, take it a step further and make your own dough alternatives. Try making a cauliflower crust for your next family pizza night, meal prep cream cheese flatbread for a delicious mid-week shawarma, or blend up some soaked lentils and add some sundried tomatoes and feta for a savoury, nutrient-packed cheesy tomato bread to be enjoyed throughout the week.

Sensational Soups 

Chicken noodle, roasted tomato or butternut soup, topped with a sprinkle of croutons and warmed to perfection - could there be a more comforting dish? While soups are often packed with health-boosting ingredients, a few tweaks to your shopping list can help you pack even more nutrients into every spoonful. For starters, swap out stock for broth. Not only will this add a greater depth of flavour to each bowl, it will also add extra healthy fats and collagen to your meal. To secure even more benefits, try adding some superfoods, like kale, medicinal mushrooms, and ginger to one of your recipes and, instead of adding croutons to finish off the dish, opt for some roasted chickpeas for a crunchy, salty, and satisfying topping that’s packed with even more health benefits.

Bring Back the Snack 

Savour delicious sweet and savoury snacks without the guilt by incorporating more whole foods into your recipes. For creamy, crunchy, and vegetarian nachos, slice up some sweet potatoes, roast them to perfection and stack them with black beans, guacamole, cream cheese, and a smattering of cheddar. On Taco Tuesday, swap tortillas for large iceberg lettuce leaves to hold your favourite fillings. And end your night on a sweet note without the sugar crash by making no-bake stuffed date Bounty Bars. For a non-chocolate dessert option, add sauteed apples and cinnamon to rice paper and air fry for a healthy little apple pie. Or make a nutritious carrot cake by combining oats, eggs, carrots, cinnamon, and bananas.

Bon appétit!