Tips to make comfort food – Healthy Snacks

Comfort food is all about meals and ingredients that keep us feeling nurtured, warm and wholesome during those cold days and chilly nights, and these tips are a sure way to keep the winter blues away and still feel like you are staying true to your healthy self.

• Try having spiced popcorn that you have made yourself. Roast off almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds with a tsp of olive oil and a tablespoon of tamari or your favourite curry powder. Add a little salt and pepper and bake until golden and crunchy.

• Make your own herbal teas by infusing ginger with mint and a stick of cinnamon. Drink this for a warming drink. You can add a little honey and lemon if you feel poorly.

• If you are entertaining, use a lighter style red wine and bring it to a simmer with lemon and orange peel, a stick of cinnamon, a couple of cloves, a few slices of ginger and a tbsp of orange blossom or rose water and simmer  this until fragrant. Drink warm for a twist on that comforting  glass of red. For hot chocolate fans, blend together dark dutch cocoa, with a good pinch of cinnamon, a few drops of vanilla essence, a pinch of chilli and some honey or a little sugar. Pour over your warm milk or hot water and enjoy.

• My favourite healthy chocolate substitute (as we all know that chocolate is a winter favourite) is blending together fresh dates with dutch cocoa, cocoa nibs, soaked nuts and a table spoon of coconut. Roll into balls and again in coconut. Eat one when you feel that sugar hit urge.