Comfort Foods

As we move into the let down mode and cold harsh winter weather after all the blitz of the holidays there may be a tendency to gravitate to higher calorie food choices in the name of "comfort". This could certainly sabotage a New Year’s Resolution. Here are a few tips where you can still enjoy the warmness, comfort, and flavor of a favorite soup without ruining your healthier food plan. 

Soups are always comforting and warming on a cold wintry day. Opt for the tomato based soups instead of the creamy white soups. Choose the Manhattan clam chowder instead of the New England chowder. But do you still miss the creamy version? Well believe it or not, pureeing cauliflower with a bit of tofu can make a tasty New England clam chowder without all the added fat. (Don't knock this until you actually try it although you may have to experiment with how much cauliflower and tofu you use. Adjust according to taste.) I’ve used this as a substitute in several of my “creamy” soups. Some people mash potatoes with the cauliflower to cut the starch calories down.

Another viable option for the creaminess of soups is celery root. Peel, cut up, cook, puree, and season celery root. I usually add a little tofu to this as well. This can make a nice cream base for a favorite soup too. Don't forget Dana always has numerous winter dishes available.