17 Comfort Foods with a Healthy Twist

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Blended Soups - Add potatoes for creaminess, instead of heavy cream

Creamy blended soups can be the ultimate warming comfort food, often served as appetizers at restaurants in cups or bowls. But beware of these sneaky calorie traps, as they're often bulked up with heavy cream, milk, butter, flour, cornstarch or other thickening agents. Instead of using dairy or a roux, try incorporating starchy vegetables that take on a velvety texture when pureed. Potatoes are an excellent option, and you don't have to add a ton to get the desired creamy results. As a comparison, 3.5 oz (100 g) of boiled potatoes has only about 78 calories versus 360 calories for 3.5 fl oz (100 ml) of heavy cream.

Hungry for more? Try these vegan-friendly remakes of your favorite comfort foods.