We know fall is all about comfort food, but you know, we do still want to fit into our pants this holiday season. So, this week we’re looking for low-calorie comfort food dishes that still give you all the satisfaction of their weightier counterparts.
So grab a pen, make your shopping list, and stock up on ingredients before the weekend’s over to make your weeknights that much easier.
At top: Fettuccini Alfredo at The Banana Diaries; Spaghetti Squash Tuscan Chicken at Grits to Greens
Make life easier! Sign up for our weekly meal plan emails.
You can stretch your budget with this recipe, because one or two chicken breasts will feed the whole family with this Spaghetti Squash Tuscan Chicken at Grits to Greens. Cube the chicken and cook it ahead of time to make for a quick dinner prep, then save any extras for chicken quesadillas for lunch later in the week.
Tacos are always yummy comfort food to me, and these Shrimp Tacos at Meal Prep on Fleek go a little lighter on the calories than ground beef and cheese. Use some of our tips for cooking with frozen shrimp, and make some Mexican rice and black beans on the side. But make extra, because you can use them in tomorrow night’s stuffed peppers!
These Southwestern Stuffed Peppers at The Nut Free Vegan are an easy meat-free meal to stretch out your week, although you could definitely add any leftover chicken or shrimp from earlier dinners this week. These are simple and comforting and satisfying—perfect for a busy weeknight when it’s cold outside.
Related: This easy weekly meal planner notepad helps end the pain. Or minimizes it just a bit.
Mmm, there’s nothing like a creamy, comforting bowl of pasta during the winter. But I’m afraid my pants are already feeling too tight. This low-cal Fettuccini Alfredo at The Banana Diaries uses some dairy-free cheeses to give you that creamy taste without all the extra calories. Bonus: it’s vegan too!
Plan on a date night dinner in after the kids have gone to bed, and make this Caprese Chicken at The Mediterranean Dish. Wow, these layers of flavor look delicious, without loads of carbs or breading to make it feel too heavy. The only trick is eating just one serving.
You will never believe the secret ingredient in this scrumptious Snickerdoodle Dip at Desserts with Benefits, which takes it from dessert to “healthy side dish” category in my book. The snickerdoodles, on the other hand, are a totally different story.
