Healthy Comfort Food: Easy Cold Weather Recipes

27 January 2025

Warm up with tasty and healthy dishes: discover simple recipes that combine the pleasure of comfort food with well-being.

When the cold starts to make itself felt, it is natural to seek the warmth of a dish that pampers the body and mind. Comfort food represents a real culinary treat: these are foods capable of evoking sensations of well-being and happiness, often linked to childhood memories or traditional flavors. However, these dishes can be revisited in a light way, maintaining their reassuring power without exceeding in calories or fat. With the right ingredients and a few small tricks, it is possible to prepare recipes that combine taste and lightness, perfect for facing winter days.

Why choose healthy comfort food?

Comfort food has the power to improve your mood thanks to its ability to stimulate the release of endorphins, the “happy hormones”. However, dishes that are too rich in saturated fats or sugars can weigh you down and compromise your health. Opting for lighter and more nutritious versions allows you to enjoy the same emotional benefits, without giving up a balanced lifestyle.

Here are some easy and healthy recipes to warm up your winter:

1. Lentil and turmeric soup

A dish rich in vegetable proteins and antioxidants, ideal for fighting the cold.
Ingredients:

• 200 g of lentils
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• Vegetable broth to taste.
  Method:
  Fry the onion and carrots with a drizzle of oil. Add the lentils and vegetable broth, leaving to cook for 30 minutes. At the end of cooking, add the turmeric and mix well. Serve with a drizzle of raw oil.

2. Porridge with apple and cinnamon

A warm and nutritious breakfast, perfect to start the day.
Ingredients:

• 50 g of oat flakes
• 250 ml of milk (also vegetable)
• 1 apple
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• Honey or maple syrup to taste.
  Method:
  Cook the oat flakes in the milk over a low heat until they have a creamy consistency. Add the diced apple, the cinnamon and a drizzle of honey.

3. Baked chicken with seasonal vegetables

A light and tasty second course that doesn't compromise on flavour.
Ingredients:

• 2 chicken legs
• 300 g of seasonal vegetables (pumpkin, carrots, broccoli)
• Rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper to taste.
  Method:
  Arrange the chicken and vegetables in a baking dish. Season with a drizzle of oil, aromatic herbs, salt and pepper. Bake in the oven at 180°C for about 40 minutes, until golden brown.

4. Light hot chocolate

A classic comfort food revisited in a light way.
Ingredients:

• 250 ml of milk (also vegetable)
• 1 teaspoon of bitter cocoa
• 1 teaspoon of corn starch
• Natural sweetener to taste.
  Method:
  In a saucepan, dissolve the corn starch in the milk. Add the cocoa and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Sweeten to taste and serve hot.

Choose well-being without sacrifices

Preparing healthy comfort food means treating yourself without feeling heavy. These recipes are easy to make, tasty and perfect for warming up winter days. With simple and genuine ingredients, the pleasure of the table combines with well-being.

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