Turn These Family Favorite Meals to Healthy Family Meals

How often does your family ask you: “What’s for dinner?” While following your healthy eating plan, you can still serve many traditional family favorites simply by giving them a healthy makeover. Instead of being a short-order cook in the kitchen, follow these guidelines to help you prepare nutritious, delicious dinners everyone will enjoy.

Family Favorite: Macaroni and Cheese

Healthy–style: Every kid and adult can appreciate a comforting bowl of macaroni and cheese. To make a healthier version, use whole-wheat macaroni instead of the traditional white-flour noodles. Avoid packaged cheese sauces; you can create your own using reduced-fat cheddar cheese, whole-wheat flour, and trans-fat-free margarine (vegetable-oil spread). To add color and fiber to the dish, include chopped veggies, such as broccoli or green beans, and red bell peppers.

Family Favorite: Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Healthy–style: With a few substitutions, this homey favorite can be turned into a healthier dish. Choose lean ground beef or ground turkey or chicken breast and add fresh and/or dried herbs like parsley, chives, and basil to it. You can also add shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese and minced garlic for heightened flavor. Serve the meatloaf with a mélange of sautéed veggies, like onions, bell peppers, and zucchini, along with a cauliflower mash instead of white mashed potatoes. You can add whole-wheat bread crumbs to the meat or poultry mixture and serve with mashed sweet potatoes.

Family Favorite: Burger and Fries

Healthy–style: Give this favorite combo a healthy makeover by using lean ground sirloin, or turkey or chicken breast to create the burger. Stuff or top the burger with reduced-fat cheese. Pass on the bun if you’re striving for really healthy eating and serve the burger on a Bibb lettuce leaf along with celery or jícama sticks instead of fries. Or, enjoy the burger on a whole-wheat bun, whole-wheat pita, or whole-wheat English muffin. As a classic side dish, bake some sweet-potato fries in the oven with a sprinkling of paprika or cayenne to boost flavor.

Family Favorite: Cheese Pizza

Healthy–style: Hands down, pizza is the all-around family favorite. Instead of heading to your local pizzeria, though, prepare pizza at home using healthier ingredients. Choose a premade whole-wheat-flour crust, a whole-wheat tortilla, or whole-wheat pita instead of a traditional white-flour crust. Top with no-sugar-added tomato sauce, shredded reduced-fat cheese, freshly chopped veggies like red bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms, and reduced-fat turkey sausage, if desired.