Healthy substitutes for favorite comfort foods

While we love our comfort foods, they are usually characterized by being high-caloric in nature and have high carbohydrate levels.

Here are a few comfort food favorites that you can make healthier with calorie-slashing substitutions, according to EatThis.com:

1. Macaroni and cheese: Add pureed butternut squash or pumpkin into your cheese sauce, so you can dial back on the milk and cheese.

2. Meatloaf: By using turkey, lean grass-fed ground beef, or a combination of the two, in your recipe, you can decrease calories and saturated fat. You can also mix in low-cal sources of flavors such as chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, canned green chilies, lentils or sugar-free canned corn.

3. Tomato soup: To make a skinnier version, pureeing canned Roma tomatoes, a jar of roasted bell peppers, low-sodium veggie broth and fresh basil. For a creamier texture add unsweetened cashew milk.

4. Mashed potatoes: Use cauliflower or a blend of turnips, rutabagas, parsnips and carrots. Steam the veggies and mash them up with fat-free half-andhalf, light cream cheese, low-sodium chicken broth and a tablespoon of grass-fed butter.

5. Chili: Use a lean protein such as chicken, turkey or bison in place of ground beef. To cut back on salt, select lower-sodium beans and canned tomatoes.

6. Pizza: Use protein-packed chickpea flour to make something called a farinata, which is an unleavened pancake made of chickpea flour, water, and olive oil.

7. Roasted vegetables: Roast carrots, turnips and any other veggies in pomegranate juice, which provides a seasonal fall flavor. If you prefer a more savory dish try roasting your veggies in olive oil, sea salt and herbs (like rosemary and oregano).