How to indulge in your favorite foods without gaining weight

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Comfort foods can be some of the hardest foods to eliminate when trying to eat healthy. Those familiar simple foods can transport us back to childhood with a single bite, giving us much needed comforting. The cheesy creamy goodness of a bowl of mac and cheese, the buttery smooth flavor of a spoonful of mashed potatoes, or the delicate crisp bite of a good French fry may be soothing to the soul, but not to the waistline.

Vikki LeBeau, owner of Texas Last Diet in The Woodlands, explains how she indulges in comforting foods that aren’t high in fat and calories. “I tell my clients to master the five dishes that they love best,” she said. “You can take your favorite comfort foods and turn them into healthy versions with a few tweaks and substitutions. Once you master your comfort foods, you can indulge without the guilt or the weight gain.”

Using a versatile vegetable such as cauliflower, a dieter can create a variety of comfort foods. “Cauliflower is my all-time favorite vegetable. Mash it up instead of potatoes or throw it in the food processor for a healthy alternative to rice. You can even use it when making healthy breads, pizza and tortillas,” saidVikki “Get yourself a spiralizer and make zucchini noodles in place of pasta or invest in an air fryer for your favorite fried food alternatives.”

Subbing steamed cauliflower in place of spuds makes a delicious mash that is sure to please the entire family. Cauliflower has roughly one-third of the carbs of potatoes, so this recipe is ideal for those who want to cut back on carbs without sacrificing flavor. Just steam a head of cauliflower and mash with garlic powder and some Greek yogurt.

“But don’t stop there,” added Vikki. “Cauliflower can also be used in place of potatoes in potato salad. Bake a head of cauliflower in the oven with some olive oil, salt and pepper for 20 minutes until lightly browned. When cooled, combine with a yogurt Dijon dressing, boiled eggs, red onion and celery.”

Craving a good sandwich? With the addition of a few eggs, cilantro and lime, riced cauliflower can be made into mouthwatering tortillas that can be used in a number of wrap options.

Including a few new inexpensive gadgets such as a spiralizer or air fryer and versatile vegetables, the health-conscious can create and indulge in comfort foods that won’t increase the waistline. Having the right tools can really improve one’s chances of success when implementing healthy eating. “At Texas Last Diet, we not only share tips on comfort foods, but also how to eat when you are out so that you can always know how to choose the healthiest option without the guilt or stress. This is your last diet, after all; we want you to be successful.”

Vikki LeBeau, the owner of Texas Last Diet, located at 26107 I-45 N, The Woodlands, Texas, 77380, is a passionate educator for The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method, a medically designed protocol containing two key components – weight loss and a healthier lifestyle education to assist in maintaining results after dieting. Contact Texas Last Diet today at 832-791-DIET or vikki@texaslastdiet.com to request a free initial weight loss assessment. More information can be found at www.texaslastdiet.com.