Christine Palumbo

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March 10, 2021

Comfort Foods During The Pandemic – How To Keep Them Healthy

Guest post by Rosa Hemming

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in more ways than one. It’s been a tragic global crisis, claiming a lot of lives and hurting a lot of people, forcing entire populations into lockdown, halting economies, and so much more.

It’s also taken a toll on mental health. Cooped up indoors all the time, many people are eager for any kind of comfort they can get, and this is why we’ve seen a rise in the number of comfort foods people tend to be making and eating.

When you’re feeling lonely, bored, or stressed in relation to the pandemic, there’s something so comforting about cooking up a rich lasagna, flavorsome chili, or cheesy pizza to give you a big boost of endorphins and lighten your mood.

Unfortunately, these kinds of meals also come with big numbers of calories, and many people are worried that they might end up emerging from lockdown with more than a few extra pounds around the waist.

However, it is perfectly possible to eat a healthy diet during the lockdown and still enjoy the foods you love on a regular basis. Here are some useful tips to make your comforting classics a little less fattening and a little more nourishing.

Image by RitaE from Pixabay

A New Kind of Chili

If your family loves chili, there are plenty of ways you can still get those same great flavors in a healthier way. For instance, instead of using ground beef or pork as your main chili meat, switch it out to ground turkey instead. The fat content for your chili will dramatically drop if you do this, and you usually won’t even notice the difference.

You could also swap some or all of the meat for a veggie-friendly alternative like bulgur or beans as a great source of fiber, and you should try and add more beans and other veggies in general, such as sweet potatoes or squash, to bring in some additional fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins.

Perfectly Healthy Pizza

Pizza is one of the best and most popular comfort foods of them all, but it isn’t exactly known for its healthy, nutritional content, especially with all that gluten-filled dough and fatty cheese on top. Still, there are ways you can adjust the recipe here and there to change things greatly. For instance, you can begin with the dough and make use of a whole-grain base for your pizza instead of a regular one.

On top, you can make use of lighter cheeses with lower fat content, and make sure to add plenty of veggies to bring some vitamins to the meal. Lean meats are a great option for protein too, and it’s always best to make your own sauce, as pre-made sauces are typically filled with salt and preservatives.

Image by Roberto Rizzo from Pixabay

Burgers

There’s nothing quite like a burger when you want to brighten up the day, but what can you do to make your burger recipes better for you? Well, one trick is to consider alternative meats. Beef can be quite fatty, so opting for turkey, chicken, or even fish burgers can vastly reduce the calorie count. You can even try out one of the many new vegan, meat-free alternatives.

It’s also recommended to keep things simple with the toppings, avoiding really fatty add-ons like rich cheeses and fried bacon. Instead, get some salad into your burger and try to make use of homemade salsas and other light condiments to add flavor without adding fat.

A Lighter Lasagna

If you want to transform your lasagna into a healthier and leaner dish, there are quite a few options available to you. Just like in chili, you can consider switching out the meat for something leaner, like turkey or chicken.

You can also opt for lighter cheeses, replacing ricotta with cottage cheese, for instance, and using light mozzarella instead of full-fat cheese. Try to make your own sauce, too, as store-bought sauces are often filled with excess ingredients that won’t do your body any favors.

Author Bio: Rosa Hemming is an experienced blogger, content creator, and college paper writing services expert from the US. She writes on various blogs, and as part of a professional essay writing service team too. Rosa is passionate about a range of subjects and enjoys movies, TV shows, and more. Find her on Twitter.

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Christine M. Palumbo, MBA, RDN, FAND


You’ll find anything from seasonal nutrition advice to healthy eating for families to my take on the latest nutrition “buzz.” Feel free to comment or ask questions and I’ll do my best to respond. Please share this site with your friends and colleagues.

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Christine Palumbo Nutrition
3 months ago

Christine Palumbo Nutrition

Even if losing weight isn’t one of your goals, these nutritious recipes are worth adding to your meal rotation.
I’m honored to be featured in this piece, along with registered dietitian colleagues.
www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-recipes/healthy-soups-that-can-help-support-weight-loss/

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10 Healthy Soup Recipes for Weight Loss

www.everydayhealth.com

When you use healthy ingredients like veggies and lean protein, soup can be part of a healthy weight loss diet. For inspiration, try these 10 delicious and nutritious recipe ideas.

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© 2022 · Christine M. Palumbo, MBA, RDN, FAND | Naperville, Ill. | Disclosure

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Speaking Client List

Over 400 presentations, including several keynotes (partial list):

Corporate:

  • AAR Corporation
  • Abrasive Technologies
  • Ace Hardware Corporate Headquarters
  • Acres Enterprises
  • Advanced Urology Associates
  • Ambrosi Corp.
  • American Association of Endodontists
  • American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
  • American Board of Pediatric Dentists
  • American Hotel Register
  • American Service Insurance
  • Arlington Automotive Services
  • Aquion
  • Associated Agencies
  • Associated Integrated Supply Chain Solutions
  • Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
  • Barilla USA
  • Benet Academy
  • Berry Health Benefits Symposium
  • Blue Plate Catering
  • BP/ Amoco
  • Canopy Realtors
  • Carol Stream Fire Department
  • CBS Radio’s Spring into Shape Expo
  • Chapman and Cutler LLP
  • Chicago Dental Society
  • Chicago Dental Society-West Suburban Region
  • Chicago Heart Association
  • Club of Indian Women
  • Countryside Associates
  • Crown Media/Hallmark Channel
  • Discover Card Services
  • Dominick’s Finer Foods
  • DuPage County Police Chiefs’ Secretaries Association
  • Entertainment Cruises
  • EPKO
  • Family Festival of Surprises
  • Farm Foundation
  • Farmers Insurance Exchanges
  • Feeding America
  • Food Executive Women
  • Fox River Foods
  • Freedman Andelmo Lindberg
  • Girl Scouts of Fox Valley Council
  • Harbortown
  • Healthy Living Summit
  • Heartland Spa
  • Home Run Inn Pizza Corporate Headquarters
  • Horizon Publishing
  • HSBC Finance Corporation
  • Illinois Alliance for the Aging
  • Illinois Probation and Court Services Association
  • Ingredion
  • International Truck and Engine Corp.
  • INX International Ink
  • JPMC
  • Kellogg’s Marketing and Innovations Group
  • Lanco International
  • Land of Lincoln Soybean Association
  • Lawson Products
  • Lucent Technologies
  • Meeker-Magner Company
  • Mobil Oil
  • Moneris Solutions
  • Museum of Science & Industry
  • MultiPlan, Inc.
  • Naperville School District #203
  • Naperville Women’s Forum
  • National Association of REALTORS
  • National Lead Information Center
  • Navistar
  • NBC5 Health & Fitness Expo
  • NB Coatings
  • Near North Health Service Corporation
  • Nestle
  • Network Services Inc.
  • Norkol Converting
  • Northern Illinois University Graduate Colloquium
  • Northwestern University
  • Odontographic Society of Chicago
  • OptumHealth Care Solutions
  • OSG Tap & Die
  • Palos Community Hospital 30th Anniversary Keynote
  • Pangere Corporation
  • Parksite Inc.
  • Pekin Insurance
  • Perkins + Will
  • Radiological Society of North America
  • Rail Europe
  • Realtick
  • River Glen Church
  • Rippinger Financial Group
  • Rush-Copley Medical Center
  • Saint Catherine University Alumnae Association
  • School District U-46
  • SEKO
  • Sidley Brown Austin & Wood Law
  • Sigma Foods
  • Smithfield Foods
  • Southlake Auto Mall
  • Spartan Stores
  • Sunset Foods
  • Sysco/Continental-Keil Food Show
  • Taste of Colorado
  • TD Bank
  • The Nova Network
  • The Wooden Door Spa
  • Tishman Speyer
  • True Value Company
  • Ukrops Pharmacy Managers
  • Unilever Food Solutions
  • United Healthcare
  • USDA – FSIS
  • Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network
  • U.S. Bank
  • U.S. Soy Symposium
  • Vitas Healthcare Corporation
  • WellCare
  • West Suburban Dental Hygienists Society
  • Wheaton College
  • YMCA of the USA
  • Zurich North America

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its affiliates:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Arkansas Dietetic Association
  • Dietitians in Business and Communications
  • California Dietetic Association
  • Central Illinois Dietetic Association
  • Dietitians of West Michigan
  • Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Hines VA Dietetic Internship
  • Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Ingalls Hospital Dietetic Internship
  • Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • New Mexico Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • New York Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • North Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • South Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • West Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Corporate Consulting List

  • A Fresh Look
  • AHA Marketing
  • Bimbo Bakeries USA
  • California Raisin Marketing Board
  • California Walnut Commission
  • Cargill
  • Cyberdiet.com
  • Dairy Management Inc.
  • Eastside Cafe Pizza Manufacturers
  • Edelman
  • Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association
  • Food Marketing Support Services
  • Fox Metro Water Reclamation District
  • Fran’s Healthy Helpings
  • Golin Harris
  • Integer Group
  • Jokari Healthy Steps
  • Market Day
  • Marina Maher Communications
  • McDonald’s
  • Mongolian Barbecue Restaurant
  • Naperville YMCA
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
  • National Cheese Institute
  • Northwestern Hospital
  • Old London Melba Toast
  • Popchips
  • Popcorn Institute
  • Publicis Dialogue
  • Quaker Oats Health Institute Speakers Network
  • Red Robin Restaurants
  • Sara Lee
  • Smithfield Foods, Inc.
  • Smuckers
  • Suntory Water Group/Hinckley Springs
  • SuperTarget
  • Tishman-Speyer
  • United Healthcare
  • United States Potato Board
  • Vegetarian Times magazine
  • Weber Shandwick
  • Weight Watchers
  • Welch’s

Spokesperson Client List

  • American Egg Board
  • American Plastics Council (Food Safety)
  • Bimbo Bakeries (Arnold/Oroweat/Brownberry)
  • Boca Foods
  • California Raisin Marketing Board
  • Campbell’s Select Harvest Soups
  • Dean Foods
  • Dominick’s (Safeway)
  • Driscoll’s
  • Florida Department of Citrus
  • Giovanni Rana
  • Kellogg’s
  • Kraft Cheese
  • Lifeway Foods
  • Louis Rich Fat Free Turkey
  • McCain Foods
  • Mead Johnson
  • Michigan Cherries
  • Milk Processor Education Program
  • National Turkey Federation
  • Nature Well natural beef
  • Popchips
  • Quaker Oats
  • Sargento Foods
  • SuperTarget
  • United States Soybean Board
  • Welch’s
  • Wrigley Healthcare
  • ZESPRI Kiwifruit
Speaking

Cutting-edge nutrition that’s easy to understand

Topics for Groups

•  Making Positive Changes That Stick: Five Steps to Moving Out of That Cycle You’re Stuck In
• Supermarket Smarts: Avoid Food Marketers’ Tricks and Traps
• Anti-Stress Eating
• Cut the Fad Out of Diets: Select the Best Plan for You
• Defensive Dining: How to Eat Out & Keep Your Waistline
• Foods You Think Are Healthy….That Really Aren’t
• Forever Young: What You Can (& Can’t) Do To Slow the Aging Process
• How to Energize Your Life
• Is Your Job Making You Fat/Diet Wreckers in Your Desk
• Meal Solutions for Busy People
• Power Foods for Heart Health
• The Healthy Refrigerator: Stock Yours to Guarantee Nutritious Eating
• Top Five Nutrition Myths for Kids
• Top Ten Nutrition Strategies for Better Health

Specifically for Health Professionals
• Becoming an Expert Communicator: Making Communications Concise, Clear and Compelling
• Image 2020: What You Need for Professional Success
• Making Connections: Relationship Building for Career Success
• Engaging Readers: Nutrition Writing that Shines
• Keeping Current: Make Today’s Nutrition and Food Trends Work for You
• If the Media Calls: Are You Ready?

Corporate Consuling
Christine consults with public relations firms, food companies, restaurants, and not-for-profits.

She is available for:
• Developing nutrition education materials
• Spokesperson
• Exhibiting at professional meetings
• Writing/Marketing/PR
• Partnering with you on special projects
• Ideation sessions

Past clients
Over 500 presentations including Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and many of its affiliates, AAR Corporation,  Ace Hardware Corporate Headquarters, American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Board of Pediatric Dentists, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, Barilla USA, Berry Health Benefits Symposium, BP/ Amoco, Chicago Dental Society, Crown Media/Hallmark Channel, Discover Card Services, Entertainment Cruises, Feeding America, International Truck and Engine Corp., Kellogg’s Marketing and Innovations Group, Lucent Technologies, Mobil Oil, National Association of REALTORS, Navistar, Radiological Society of North America, Unilever Food Solutions, United Healthcare, U.S. Bank, Women’s Athletic Club of Chicago, YMCA of the USA, Zurich North America.
Full list available upon request.

Nutrient Analysis
Analyze recipes for nutrient values:
• Accurate
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