I have a new favorite comfort food! Yesterday I had my stress test, plus I was very tired from the wonderful concert I went to the night before (got in after 2 a.m.) so I was feeling in the need of comfort food. And to my surprise I was able to find something from ingredients in my pantry.
Because of the stress test I couldn’t eat all morning and had only a low calorie cheese sandwich when I got home for lunch (2 slices diet bread 80 calories and 2 slices low fat cheese 60 calories) and then later on some air popped popcorn for a snack (200 calories). I wasn’t all that hungry most of the day I think because my system was getting rid of all the icky radioactive stuff they pump into your blood for the test, and I was drinking lots of water and crystal light.
That evening it was around 6 pm, hubby and my daughter had gone out to the local carnival, I was too tired and sore to even think of going. So I was home alone and starting to get hungry and in need of comfort food big time. Since I was watching the food network I got inspired to try to find something yummy but not to hard to make — first thing I did was pop in two garlic bulbs in my electric garlic roaster
To my surprise a can of sliced potatoes is only 175 for the whole can! and there was a bag with some left over spinach in the freezer (about 2 servings so I estimated 50 calories) — not too appetizing at first glance but I was desparate and we hadn’t shopped yet and it was either that or stale cookies, canned chicken noodle soup, or frozen turkey.
I sauted an small onion (25 calories) with 0 calorie butter-flavored spray, added the potatoes (chopping them up a bit in to chunks as they cooked with the spatula (looks like more that way), thawed the spinach in the microwave and squeezed out most of the water — added that to the pan with the potatoes. By this time the kitchen was smelling so yummy (the garlic was well on its way too, adding to the aroma). I turned the stove off, covered my pan so the flavors could blend and watched tv while the garlic finished. A few minutes later I popped out 3 soft, yummy cloves and added them to the pan of potatoes and spinach. A small sprinkle of salt and some pepper with a tsp. of reduced fat butter (50 calories) – for that added special treat and extra comfort.
It was so totally awesome and filled a big bowl so I really felt like I was getting a lot of food. It tasted terrific – it satsified the senses too and was warm and comforting with the added bonus of knowing I was getting some great things for my body – the garlic and spinach.
total calories:
potatoes 175 + spinach 50 + onion 25 + reduced fat butter 50 = 300 calories
To make it a more complete meal I can add 3 servings of egg beaters (90 calories) and split it with my hubby or save the left overs for next day.
Or add a tyson frozen honey-mustard chicken breast (130 calories) (on the side or chopped up in it) and split the potato-spinach medley in half.
Two slices of crumbled turkey bacon (60 calories) would be a nice variation (or some bacon bits) for an added treat.
Next time you feel in need of comfort give it a try. Or instead of grabbing the cookies or candy raid your cabinets and freezer and see what yummy healthy creations you can create. Defnitely look in to getting a electric garlic roaster
Healthy eating can be comforting – who knew!
********************
Technorati Tags
diet dieting weight loss health lose weight low calorie recipe comfort food
Currently Diet Pulpit is rarely updated. Lady Rose is now blogging at Blissful Moon, where she is staying healthy and continuing to have adventures, please stop by and visit.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
Feedburner
