6 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes to Help You Keep Warm This Season

Comfort Food Favourites

· Vegetable Pot Pie – Make individual servings in ramekins to help control portion sizes. Add various vegetables to the filling, such as mushrooms, carrots, peas, onion, and celery. Season with spices of your choice. Create a creamy sauce with vegetable broth and a whole grain or chickpea flour. Top with phyllo or skip the crust and top with mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower for a comfort food with a nutrient-rich twist.

· Meatless Quinoa Chilli – Loaded with protein and fibre, this chilli is a comfort food that is filling and healthy. Select your vegetables of choice. Great options here include tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, carrots, chilli peppers, and corn. Add these along with your quinoa, black beans, spices and vegetable broth to a slow cooker and cook for 2.5−3 hours on high or 5 – 6 hours on low. Top with avocado and a sour cream alternative by blending soaked cashews with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a splash of water until smooth – high in healthy fats and protein.

· Baked Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese – Add 2 cups almond, oat, or coconut milk, 2 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter, spices, and 1 box of your gluten-free pasta noodles (like brown rice, chickpea, or lentil pasta) to a pot and cook until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has become thick. Add in 1 cup pumpkin purée and ½ cup dairy-free cheese (like cashew cheese) and mix. Top with gluten-free bread crumbs or crushed nuts or seeds (pumpkin seeds or chopped almonds) and bake until golden brown.

· Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas – To create this comfort food, heat a skillet, adding onions and sweet potatoes. Add water, cover, and cook until the potatoes are done. Add spices and black beans and cook for another few minutes. To make the enchiladas, scoop the mixture onto tortillas, roll, and top with a non-dairy cheese and enchilada sauce (preferably made from tomato paste & low-sodium vegetable broth & spices). Pour some sauce into the bottom of a casserole dish and add the rolled enchiladas. Bake, and garnish with tomatoes, avocados, and more sauce if desired.

· Creamy Pumpkin Soup – Start with boiling water. Add pumpkin, spices, tomatoes, carrots, and green onions. Cook until the pumpkin becomes fork-soft. Remove from the heat and blend. Once the soup is smooth, add coconut milk and simmer for 5 minutes to thicken. A comfort food that few can resist.

· Shepherd’s Pie – Prepare the meat or vegetable filling. Mix in the accompaniments such as mushrooms, carrots, and onions. Add in whole grain or chick pea flour to coat the mixture and pour broth over the top to thicken and create a gravy. Put the mixture into a casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes (or mashed sweet potatoes). Bake, and then broil on low to brown the potatoes. This comfort food is particularly welcome on a cold winter’s eve. 

· Achieving better health

· Learning about holistic nutrition

· How to become a holistic nutrition resource for others

· Studying the Science of Food, Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrient Composition, & more

· Pursuing a professional certification in holistic nutrition