17 Healthy Versions of Comfort Food Favorites

Next time you've had a bad day or just need a pick-me-up, try having one of these healthy comfort food options.

Food does more than just provide us with necessary vitamins and minerals. It also plays an important societal role, bringing friends and family together, giving us an excuse to gather, to spend time with one another, to try new things, or indulge in old-time favorites. The foods we eat can also affect our mood.

When people talk about comfort foods, it often refers to the foods we crave when we’re having a bad day or need a mood-booster. Comfort foods can include meals we ate as children and favorite snacks or desserts. These foods trigger the reward center in our brains and release hormones that make us feel content and satisfied.

Comfort foods are unfortunately often high in fats and sugars. However, they don’t have to be. Next time you’ve had a bad day or just need a pick-me-up, try having one of these healthier alternatives. These seventeen healthy comfort food recipes are made with clean eating ingredients, and often offer a low-calorie option.
Sweet

Simple Homemade Peanut Butter
1. Simple Homemade Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a popular comfort food among all age groups. Kids love it; adults love it. Peanut butter can also be a healthy treat as long as you stay clear of added sugars. One fun way to do this is to make your own peanut butter! While making peanut butter at home sounds complicated, it’s actually a simple activity. Try it out, and you could even try making it a family event.

2. 5-Minute Peanut Butter Fudge
Once you have sugar free peanut butter, you can try making this easy, quick fudge. It’s a healthy alternative to traditional fudge, that can be made with no processed sugar.

3. Peanut Butter Banana Cups
Instead of reaching for sugar-loaded peanut butter cups, try making these healthier peanut butter and banana cups. The combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and banana is one of the most popular among desserts, and this recipe combines them without packing in the sugar.

4. Banana Ice Cream
One hack that has become popular among health enthusiasts is making ice cream from frozen bananas. Frozen bananas have the perfect creamy texture when ground using a food processor or blender. The texture perfectly mimics traditional ice cream, making this a healthy way to indulge in a sweet, creamy treat.

5. Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cram
If soft serve ice cream is more your style, try this banana recipe. It uses Greek Yogurt to provide a softer consistency.

6. Clean Eating Apple Pie
Everyone loves pie! It’s no wonder it’s become a staple at every family gathering. Try this clean eating apple pie, which contains no butter and limited processed carbs.

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Sofia Lopez

Sofia received her BA from Cornell University and her MFA from San Francisco State University. She creates workouts and fitness challenges. Her hobbies include running, hiking, and listening to audiobooks from the exercise bike.

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