You can enjoy the warmest, most comforting foods without sacrificing your health. In fact, there are many great comfort foods that can greatly aid your health. With these seven healthy comfort foods, you will never have to feel guilty about eating again!

1. Meatloaf

Nothing brings back the warm memories of childhood dinners quite like meatloaf. As a warm, hearty, and beefy comfort food, meatloaf can be made in a healthier fashion without cutting any of its fantastic flavors.

Cook with virgin oils and non-fat butter to cut down on excessive carbs and sugars, and use an organic ketchup to lower the sugar content. Top it off with some freshly sliced basil, or cook it with minced garlic for a flavorful, yet healthy, boost.

Adding just a pinch of garlic can do wonders for your health, as garlic is beneficial to both your immune and vascular systems.

2. Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, and Fruit

Oatmeal can be the perfect comfort food on a cold, dreary morning. You don’t have to settle for plain or bland oatmeal just to be healthy. With the addition of certain flavors and foods, your oatmeal can be delicious and nutritious!

Try adding half a teaspoon of brown sugar, cinnamon or both to your morning oatmeal. While sugars are generally unhealthy, brown sugar has fewer calories than its refined counterparts, and cinnamon can help your heart in moderation as well. To enhance your morning treat, add some blueberries or strawberries for a vitamin-packed bowl of goodness!

3. Baked Potato

While it may sound unhealthy, a baked potato can easily become a healthy and comforting snack. A single potato has enough carbs to give you energy for the rest of the day, but not enough to cause weight-gain or drowsiness. As long as you avoid frying the potato in saturated fats and oils, it can be a great way to get your daily intake of carbohydrates.

After baking the potato, you can add an assortment of healthy and delicious items to make your snack perfect. Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream, and it is full of rich proteins and an incredible amount of vitamin C. You can also add avocado slices, which are full of complex vitamins and minerals, or add a slice of Canadian bacon if you’re really hungry. Make sure to get a low-sodium cut of meat, otherwise your snack may become unhealthy.

4. Pizza Bagel

Pizzas are generally full of grease and low-quality cuts of meat. However, you can make a quick and delightful pizza with bagels and artisan toppings for a perfectly healthy snack. Choose a fresh bagel from a local bakery, and add a low-sodium tomato sauce. You can use any pasta sauce you wish, from vodka sauces to sauces combined with mushrooms. The flavor is up to you! Then, add one slice of your favorite cheese, such as Swiss or cheddar, and then add all of the healthy toppings you crave.

Some of the best healthy toppings include: peppers, avocado, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, and even celery and chicken. Try to include as many vegetables as you can, and then add a few slices of quality meat to complete your pizza. Once your bagel is looking complete, simply toast it for about five minutes or until everything is nicely baked together. Your favorite pizza just became a lot healthier, and it can be cooked almost immediately!

5. Warm Soup

When your throat is dry and the weather is wet, there is nothing better than a nice and hot bowl of soup. Choose a broth that compliments any meat that you may add, such as a chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even a mushroom broth. Then, to make your soup hearty and comforting, add thick slices of celery, carrots, peppers, and some lean cuts of meat. As always, try to get low-sodium broths to keep your heart happy. Enjoy with a slice of organic rye bread and some hot black tea for a truly comforting dish!

6. Coffee, Tea and Bread

Coffee is often thought to be unhealthy, yet as long as you enjoy it in moderation, coffee can be a wonderfully healthy addition to your day. Drink it black to get the most benefits, which include a surplus of antioxidants, a stronger cardiovascular system, and increased focus.

If you’re sensitive to caffeine, try black or green tea instead. Black tea contains half as much caffeine as coffee, and green tea contains even less than black tea!

To make a complete and comforting snack, add some warm, organic toast to your plate. This small and healthy snack will keep you full until lunchtime. Just make sure not to add excessive milk, or really any sugars, to your coffee.

7. Dark Chocolate

If you’re feeling adventurous, have a bite of dark chocolate with your coffee. You may be surprised, but dark and minimally processed chocolate is actually amazing for your health. The darker a chocolate is, the more flavonoids it contains. These antioxidant-rich substances can aid your cardiovascular system, and even prevent more serious complications.

As with anything this delicious, make sure to eat it in moderation, and go for as dark as you can enjoy. Over time, you will develop a taste for bitter and complex chocolates.

By now, your mouth is watering and your stomach is calling your name. Go and enjoy some of these healthy and hearty snacks. With these foods, you can be comforted and healthy at once.

What’s your favorite healthy comfort food?