As an emotional eater, sometimes I can fool myself into thinking that the best thing to do after a hard day is indulge in my favorite foods. For me, the most awesome comfort foods in the world are:
Fresh Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies (with a cold glass of almond milk)
Mac and Cheese (Truffle Mac and Cheese is a new favorite)
Quesadillas (melted cheese inside of a tortilla, extra points if there’s guacamole involved)
Homemade Chocolate Cake (you know when you place a scoop of ice cream on top and it starts to melt right in… *deep sigh*)
Some of my comfort foods are sweet, some are savory but the one thing they have in common?
They’re all WARM!
During #PSPfit Cycle 3, Abra brought up a good point on our weekly call when the girls were talking about comfort foods. She asked us if perhaps we’re finding comfort in the warmth of our food instead of the indulgent dishes we deem comforting.
A light bulb went off in my head. As an unmarried girl who lives alone, how often do I have a hot meal?
So, for the past few weeks I’ve been working hard to incorporate warm dishes into my meals. I add soup to my lunches at work (my office is freezing in the summer, so it feels good).
At home I’ve been making warm salads. Sometimes I sautee the ingredients fresh and create a warm salad and sometimes I make a salad cold and then put it in the oven until its warm. Warm Kale salads with salmon are my favorite!
As part of my private Nutrition Coachings with Abra, she sent me this quote from Genene Roth who wrote an amazing book called Women, Food and God.
Hot meals are real food. Hot meals nourish you. A Snickers bar tastes good, but after you’ve finished it, you don’t feel as if you’ve eaten. So you scrounge around for more and soon you find yourself standing in your kitchen eating cold pizza from three days ago.
If your life is arranged so that you don’t have time to eat a hot meal everyday–even if it’s soup or scrambled eggs, even if it’s vegetable pot pie heated in the microwave–it’s time to question your priorities.
Eating one hot meal a day is a way of saying that you want the real thing: a life of main courses. It is a way to begin giving yourself the real thing.
My issues with food are never going do go away, but I can begin to own them. Instead of being dragged down by comfort food that doesn’t support my health, I can redefine what is comforting to me so that I get what I need from food emotionally and physically.
The next time you’re craving an unsupportive comfort food, see if you can do a “hot remix” of a healthy option… it might make you feel better from the inside out. Just a thought!
Our next online fitness/nutrition bootcamp will be the 30 days before Thanksgiving. Join us from any city by pre registering at www.PSPfit.com
I have never thought of it that way, a lot of my comfort food except crisps (chips) are hot! That salmon Salad looks delish xx
I think its so cute when you guys say “crisps”, lol… <3 <3
I have never thought of it that way, a lot of my comfort food except crisps (chips) are hot! That salmon Salad looks delish xx
I think its so cute when you guys say “crisps”, lol… <3 <3
I have found ways to make healthier versions of my comfort foods and then limiting portion sizes. Still all the goodness with better health benefits, made from scratch. With all whole ingredients.
Good for you 🙂
I have found ways to make healthier versions of my comfort foods and then limiting portion sizes. Still all the goodness with better health benefits, made from scratch. With all whole ingredients.
Good for you 🙂
Perfect timing! Earlier today I wanted something…(wasn’t sure what). Decided to have a cup of Good Earth Sweet and Spicy Tea. It did the trick. Now I am reading your post and it encourages me to make that a regular occurrence. Thanks CeCe
Hooray! Keep up the good work…
Perfect timing! Earlier today I wanted something…(wasn’t sure what). Decided to have a cup of Good Earth Sweet and Spicy Tea. It did the trick. Now I am reading your post and it encourages me to make that a regular occurrence. Thanks CeCe
Hooray! Keep up the good work…
On. Time. Thanks so much for sharing this. I have an obsession with ice cream and will begin to “redefine what is comforting” about it, as you explained here.
You may want to look up some smoothie recipes, sometimes almond milk and banana creates an ice-cream type feel 🙂
On. Time. Thanks so much for sharing this. I have an obsession with ice cream and will begin to “redefine what is comforting” about it, as you explained here.
You may want to look up some smoothie recipes, sometimes almond milk and banana creates an ice-cream type feel 🙂
This is exactly my challenge and the distinct opportunity I have. I LOVE a good hot meal, whatever time of day. It feels more satisfying to me in so many ways, but I often struggle with the time necessary to cook such a meal and the preparation it takes to make it healthy. That’s when I usually am talked into getting some sort of take away by my silly brain (and those are usually not healthy). This is a very interesting “aha” moment… it’s all about the hot meal for me. Now, what can I do about that? Hmmmm…
This is exactly my challenge and the distinct opportunity I have. I LOVE a good hot meal, whatever time of day. It feels more satisfying to me in so many ways, but I often struggle with the time necessary to cook such a meal and the preparation it takes to make it healthy. That’s when I usually am talked into getting some sort of take away by my silly brain (and those are usually not healthy). This is a very interesting “aha” moment… it’s all about the hot meal for me. Now, what can I do about that? Hmmmm…
…Huh. Never would’ve thought of this.
I *have* found that baking “better” versions of my fave treats works for me. I found a really scone/tea cake type recipe that tastes and looks indulgent, but is very low carb and delish – and since I fill my house with the buttery smell, etc., it just satisfies me on a lot of levels. (Recipe here, if anyone is interested: http://www.gourmetgirlcooks.com/2014/05/lemon-buttermilk-scones-low-carb-wheat.html)
Now I need some tea.
…Huh. Never would’ve thought of this.I *have* found that baking “better” versions of my fave treats works for me. I found a really scone/tea cake type recipe that tastes and looks indulgent, but is very low carb and delish – and since I fill my house with the buttery smell, etc., it just satisfies me on a lot of levels. (Recipe here, if anyone is interested: http://www.gourmetgirlcooks.com/2014/05/lemon-buttermilk-scones-low-carb-wheat.html)
Now I need some tea.
I had to give this some thought too. I actually ALWAYS go for the warm dessert but also eat a warm meal every day. The warm substitutions is a great idea though. Instead of warm apple pie a la mode, I will warm fresh apples, add cinnamon, and a scoop of whipped cream. Yum!!!! http://www.magpose.com
I had to give this some thought too. I actually ALWAYS go for the warm dessert but also eat a warm meal every day. The warm substitutions is a great idea though. Instead of warm apple pie a la mode, I will warm fresh apples, add cinnamon, and a scoop of whipped cream. Yum!!!! http://www.magpose.com
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