17 Comfort Foods with a Healthy Twist

3/17 Previous Next

© iStock / Getty Images Plus / TheCrimsonMonkey

Chili - Omit the meat

Few things are more comforting than a piping hot bowl of chili and crusty bread to sop up the flavors. But the classic beef-based version can be rich in calories, saturated fat and sodium, not to mention any extra toppings you add (cheese, sour cream, etc.). According to the USDA, one cup of homemade chili with ground beef and kidney beans contains about 264 calories. If you omit the meat and opt for low-sodium versions of the other ingredients (canned tomatoes, kidney beans), you can cut the calorie count down to about 142 calories. And if you absolutely want some meat in your chili, opt for lean ground turkey over beef.