Think about your favorite winter comfort foods: they
probably include crave-worthy dishes like cheesy meat lasagna or creamy potato
soup. Hearty dishes are great for
warming you up when it’s cold outside, but they can often be heavy on the fat
and calories, making it difficult to keep any healthy resolutions you may have
made this New Year!
To keep yourself and your family healthy and feeling good
all winter long while still enjoying the comfort foods you crave, use the
following tips to lighten up some of your heavier dishes:
· Cook slowly
Slow cooking is one of the easiest ways to cook nutritious meals for your
family, as well as hearty, filling meals perfect for chilly weather. Slow cookers allow meats and veggies to cook
in their own juices, so you won’t need any extra fat or cholesterol from butter
or oil. There are hundreds of slow cooker
dinner ideas out there, so experiment
with different dishes and find your favorites!
· Use lean meats
It’s important to get enough protein in your diet, but some proteins are
better for your health than others. Go
through a few of your favorite easy recipes for
dinner and occasionally try substituting ground beef or sausage with leaner
meats such as chicken, turkey or even chickpeas if you want a vegetarian
option.
· Bake, don’t fry
Foods like fried chicken and French fries are popular for a reason;
they’re delicious! But while fried foods
are comforting, they aren’t great for your health. Instead of frying this winter, try baking
potato wedges and chicken dipped in egg wash and breadcrumbs for better-for-you
twists on comfort food favorites.
· Sneak in veggies
Making a casserole or soup? In addition to whatever noodles, cheese and
meat you throw in your casserole dish, make sure to add in some chopped up
veggies for valuable vitamins and nutrients.
You can even take it a step further and try foods like mashed
cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes for a healthier side option.
· Choose whole grains
Picking whole grains over white
flour is one of the easiest ways to incorporate a healthy dose of fiber into
your diet. Shop for whole grain noodles
if you’re craving pasta, use whole grain flour in your baking and serve a slice
of toasty whole grain bread alongside a hot bowl of soup for carbs you can feel
good about.
This slow cooker white chicken chili from ReadySetEat® is a
great way to enjoy good, hearty comfort food this winter while still treating
your body well. Beans and chicken broth
create a lower-fat base than using cream or loads of butter, and the lean
protein from the chicken and beans will keep you energized. Serve it for a quick and easy weeknight
dinner or try it out on Super Bowl Sunday!
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Total Time: 8 ¼ hours
- PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
- 2 15 oz cans Great Northern beans, undrained
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 10 oz can Ro*Tel® Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, undrained
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- ¾ cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
Spray the inside of a 4-quart slow cooker with cooking
spray. Place 1 can of beans in the slow
cooker and mash with a potato masher or spoon until smooth. Add the second can of beans (for a thicker
chili, drain one of the cans of beans) and all of the remaining ingredients to
the slow cooker; stir to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4
hours. Carefully separate chicken into
bite-size pieces. Top with sour cream
and a lime wedge, if desired.
Author Bio: This is a guest post written by Meredith K. on
behalf of ReadySetEat. For other easy chili recipes
to try out in your slow cooker this winter, visit www.readyseteat.com.
Slow cooking has been my life saver this past year and a bit, especially as a first time mom.
ReplyDeleteThat recipe looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteI love all beans and chicken. Thanks so much for this recipe. I'm definitely going to try this next week.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
That slow cooker white chicken chili looks delicious!! Always looking for some good slow cooker recipes, think I found one! :)
ReplyDeleteI always use lean meat and the slow cooker whenever possible. Fried foods are a once a year treat for us. I'll try the recipe thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good group of tips for healthier eating this year! My family loves potato wedges baked in the oven, too. We usually make them spicy with garlic powder and chili powder. Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeletemy computer froze,i'm sorry if this is a duplicate comment.gotta love technology! these are awesome tips! i just tried the cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes and my son said they were the best thing he has ever tasted! that rocks!
ReplyDeletethanks for all the great tips- kishacotton@yahoo
ReplyDeleteThese were very good tips. Sometimes we don't think about how heavy the winter food recipes.
ReplyDeleteUsing the slow cooker saved us this winter. We work opposite schedules and it was nice t still have homecooked meals.
ReplyDeleteThis chili looks awesome. I think we'll have it tonight.
ReplyDeleteI see I've been here before. Probably because I agree with the article.
ReplyDeleteI love slow cooking! Thank you for the great healthy cooking tips!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips for winter cooking, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! I also puree veggies and throw them in with my hamburger when making meat loaf, hamburgers, etc and nobody knows the difference! It's a great way to add veggies to your meals for kids who won't eat them otherwise!
ReplyDeleteCold winter days are just good times to eat. :-) I do so much better at eating salads and light meals during the hot summer, but I tend to bake more and find comfort in hot & heavy casseroles during the winter. Your tips will help me produce satisfying meals while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle for my family. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe've started baking ore ida fries rather than making fried potatoes - very tasty and not many calories.
ReplyDeleteI love the recipe for the chili! awesome! will definitely try this thank you! Happy Easter!
ReplyDeletethe recipe looks delish
ReplyDeleteThese are some great tips! My husband and I have recently started doing all of the things mentioned above!
ReplyDeleteI won, but have not received yet an Aqua Chef oven, I am interested in seeing how different that makes cooking. This recipe would be great on a cold day. Vicki
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so yummy, I'm going to have to make some before it gets too warm outside. The tips are great too, always looking for healthy ways to eat.
ReplyDeleteyummy yum yum
ReplyDeletethat soup looks so good and the recipe looks delish
ReplyDeleteThese look like great ideas! Plus, I'm always looking for new soup recipes for winter.
ReplyDeleteI definetly have to try this one! I dont eat red meat or pork so the chicken chili sounds awwesome to me
ReplyDeleteLots of great tips. Cooking in the winter does lend itself to heavy, more calorie laden foods.
ReplyDeleteThis recipe looks very tasty. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! I love my slow cooker and I actually use it year round, it doesn't heat up the kitchen as much as using the oven, so it's great during the summer, too. (If summer ever get here!)
ReplyDeleteCooking is fun, but sometimes challenging at different times of year; thanks for tips,etc.
ReplyDeleteI don't cook much. These are good tips. We only eat fried food once a year. As you get older it doesn't agree with you.
ReplyDeletewhat an awesome recipe, thanks a bunch im going to try this out
ReplyDeletecooking is fun and and tips are nice
ReplyDeleteHey, I noticed you've not pinned any recipes since January. I am gravely concerned that your family hasn't eaten since then. Please visit any of my Pinterest recipe boards to start the fattening up process again. ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://pinterest.com/georgiabeckman/
Lol injustnwon a slow cooker and can't wait to use it
ReplyDeletei love all these ideas, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletelove all the ideas, would love to see some recipes you have ;)
ReplyDeletesounds good!!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas for some lighter summer cooking!
ReplyDeleteRobin R
I made this for my Best Friend and She LOVED IT <3
ReplyDeleteI agree - baking foods whenever possible is way better than frying :)
ReplyDeleteI agree - bakijng whenever possible is much better than frying :)
ReplyDeleteI use my slow cooker all winter long for those hearty meals. It's nice to throw everything in one pot. Especially since I'm single and don't always like going to all the trouble just for me :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great healthy tips! I need a slow cooker in my life...
ReplyDeleteKelly
I like to use a slow cooker year round. We hardly ever eat fried food. Maybe once a year. I have my husband fry it outdoors because the oil smell lingers. In general, we eat healthy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recipe and the tips for winter cooking. I have alot of canned beans that I don't know what to make with and now I do. I also love my slow cooker.
ReplyDeleteThis recipe looks really good, Im a country girl at heart and with a side of cornbread, It would make the perfect meal! I try to add beans in place of meat often like Tacos to make them healthier.
ReplyDeleteOh your such a dear to post this...My DH loves Cherry Pie and I so needed a recipe to use to can them.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Linda Finn
faithfulacres7@gmail.com
Chilli is on the agenda for supper tonight !
ReplyDeleteLinda Finn
faithfulacres7@gmail.com
These are great tips! I love using my crockpot :)
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! Whenever I make something, I always see if there is any way to add more veggies, especially different types. A lot of times, especially when making casseroles or soups, other veggies just "go" with the recipe and can be easily added. Plus, I have 2 boys and a husband so making things a little more hearty is best!
ReplyDeleteErin K. (erinknack08@yahoo.com)
Nice to revisit this post, and to give you a comment! I did a tuna salad for my hubby this afternoon and added some grated veggies - he did not even know the difference. And I baking a lot more veggies instead of frying, all to keep cooking light as we head to the holidays. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery informative ! Might cook this for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteyummy
ReplyDeleteI love using my crock pot in the winter. Thank you for this recipe, I will be making this for my family :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent ideas! Fortunately I don't have to sneak in the veggies... my kids love them. Remembering to bake more is a great idea, rather than frying. Esp now that the A.C. isn't running!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminders of how to lighten up my cooking & for the slow cooker recipe. I love using my slow cooker all year round, but especially turn to it a lot during the colder months when making roasts, soups, stews and the like.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. It reminded me that I could be cooking more with leaner cuts of meat and cook them in my pressure cooker.
ReplyDeleteHubby simply adores chili, I'm not a big fan but would love to give this chicken chili a try. I love chicken! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your ideas for "lightening up" meals. But, I have a very picky eater. Sometime all she'll eat from a meal is meat. I make peas almost every meal. Any tips. Also, she's 13 and stubborn, so normal tricks don't work.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips and something we all can do is save the just a little bit left overs in the freezer Then when making stew or soup add it in.
ReplyDeletethanks for the tips - i definitely need to get back to healthy eating after Christmas! the recipe sounds wonderful, i need to pull out the old crock pot!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips. I can see that if I had a slow cooker, I could lighten up so much! I always just thought of it for convenience, but so much more. And the other tips are great, too!
ReplyDeleteWhat great tips, thank you so much....
ReplyDeleteGood ideas! I usually use beans to thicken up my soups.
ReplyDeleteGood tips. I am the slow cooker queen :) I love using mine!
ReplyDelete