Our comfort foods are our go to when we feel low, stressed or are in times of uncertainty. I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying ‘chicken soup for my soul’. When a lot of people think of chicken soup, they think comfort or they possibly have a memory of someone taking care of them when they were sick and offering it. With each comfort food, there is often a memory or feeling we want to recreate in order to escape from where we currently are. Whether salty, sugary or fatty, these foods can boost a person’s mood temporarily, by activating the reward system in our brains. Feeling this activation is the same feeling those with addictions experience. The short term feeling of wellbeing that we receive in the moment, is what we search for. However the crash that comes afterward can be worse, turning comfort food into a bad cycle of unhealthy eating habits. You are then left feeling all the emotions you had before with guilt added to the pile.

So, how can we still keep our comfort foods while maintaining health eating habits?

The answer is simple. By finding a compromise with nutritious comfort food, and yes that does exist. It’s completely normal to feel like that chocolate brownie after a long day at work. But there can be nutritious alternatives. Below we share one of our absolute favourites.

Avocado Chocolate Mouse is a nutritious substitute that still satisfies our sweet tooth. The bonus is it only takes 10 minutes to make.

Ingredients:

  • 2 avocados
  • 1/4 cup of cocoa powder or melted dark chocolate chips
  • 3-4 tbsp of your milk of choice
  • 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp of salt (the salt helps bring out the flavour of the cocoa)
  • sweetener of choice, add by taste (Coconut sugar or honey are our personal faves)

Simply combine the ingredients together in a food processor till completely smooth and once served, place in the fridge till chilled. Add some berries of your choice as an extra on top.

 

Our Nutritionist Mariam Hammoud is passionate about finding that balance so you can still have the foods you enjoy, while still eating food that is nutritious. She is currently doing online consults, making them easy so you can sit down with her in the comfort of your own home.