This post is from contributing writer, Danielle Eaton Hart from To The Beat of My Heart.

Ever wonder where the term “comfort food” came from? Is it possible to have “healthy” comfort food? Katie has taken her favorite comfort boxed foods and made them healthy, so I know it’s possible.

But…

What is comfort food anyway?

Googling it I found…

“…food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically any with a high sugar or other carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or homecooking.”

Comfort Food Feels Good… for Some

As a recovered anorexic now struggling with food allergies, I am very aware of my relationship with food. I am keenly attuned to how food makes me feel, both physically and emotionally. I read what science tells me is good and then look inside myself (sometimes almost literally), to see if such “health” is a universal truth.

For example, my balanced diet doesn’t exactly include all the food groups. Katie shares her family’s experience and several helpful tools about when and how to eliminate an entire food group healthily.

It can feel isolating to swim through the online world of healthy living with my baggage of “skinny problems”. While most people are counting calories to avoid excess, I find myself tracking whether I got enough calories to maintain or even gain weight (being a stay at home mom, one can burn a lot of calories just doing housework!).

If I drink 64 oz of water daily, I often feel bloated and unable to eat enough. Plus, as Mary has experienced sometimes drinking so much water isn’t actually good for us.

Because I already have a laundry list of forbidden foods, I fear that completely eliminating sugar would leave me with nothing left to eat. When I find a cardio exercise program I enjoy, I usually have to restrain myself from participating fully; otherwise, I probably won’t be able to increase my caloric intake enough to keep up with the calories I am burning.

I don’t say these things out of pity.

I am being vulnerable here because:

1. Contrary to what most people tell me, being skinny is NOT easy and doesn’t automatically mean I am healthy!

2. Every time I open up about my skinny problems I find a new resource or friend who has similar struggles.

Healthy, Comfort Food

Let’s take a peek into my world to see what allergy-friendly, healthy food looks like for me and if there’s room for comfort food!

Food that provides consolation or feelings of well-being.
Food prepared in a traditional style.
Food(s) having nostalgic or sentimental appeal.
Foods typically high in sugar or other carbohydrate content.

Gluten-free is similar to but not always the same as Celiac-friendly. Because of my mild wheat allergy, I can have gluten-free baked goods that have been moved to the same plate as glutenous sweets. But those with Celiac’s Disease cannot. While it isn’t cheap and obsessively reading ingredient labels is inconvenient, it is possible to cook, bake, and shop gluten-free with relative ease.

Want something that’s also egg and dairy free? (I can have a little dairy with a Lactaid pill and limited amounts of egg white in my food, but shopping under these labels simplifies my search for allergy-friendly food.)

Some gluten-free foods have egg washes on them like bagels or pretzels. I can find and/or make vegan food, but then I have to work to avoid that pesky gluten protein! A few allergy-friendly brands aren’t worth buying because of my strict budget and taste preferences. And don’t even get me started about the side effects of having excess soy due to dairy and peanut substitutes!

So now what?

Obviously, I cannot eat most foods prepared “in a traditional style”. If I ever have “foods typically high in sugar or other carbohydrate content” it’s because I’ve worked my butt off trying to find an allergy-friendly way to do so. If that way is found…it’s a major willpower battle not to overindulge.

I have tried recreating favorite foods from my childhood with allergy-friendly ingredients. But due to the science of cooking, some such food memories remain elusive. Above I pictured a cake that my sweet friends found at an allergy-friendly bakery and bought for me (sometimes buying allergy-friendly comfort food can be a nice treat)!

Let’s take a closer look at that remaining definition: Comfort food is simply “food that provides consolation or feelings of well being.” For me, throughout anorexia, pregnancy, and other life challenges, a constant food love has been potatoes. Especially sweet potatoes. I think I cried the first time I had sweet potato fries.

Sweet Treats for Body and Soul

I have a thing for baking. I love to bake, even if I end up giving it all away. This month I have the goal of not only baking healthy eclairs but also testing 2 different recipes for allergy-friendly croissants (spoiler: hopefully coming soon to KS!)

But do I have to choose between healthy food and comfort food? And due to all my food allergies is that really even a choice? No, and yes.

Being healthy means that eating healthy has started to feel good. If you want to bake, try to do so in a nutrient dense way. Healthy living is not about denying ourselves of pleasure: it’s about being wise stewards of what God has given us. And I firmly believe that God created us to have joy!

Ingredients for making gluten-free energy bites.

No-Bake Gluten-Free Energy Balls

Remember when I mentioned my skinny problems? A friend with similar needs passed on this delightful recipe for no-bake energy bites. It made its way around the women’s church group so much so that its origins have become blurred. I guess that makes them legendary! This epic snack is essentially a quick, easy-to-make, nutrient-dense cookie.

If that’s not healthy comfort food I don’t know what is!

No Bake Energy Balls

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

Author: Danielle Eaton-Hart
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Category: Snack

Description

Make these delicious gluten-free energy balls in one bowl!

Ingredients

1 cup oats (gluten-free or not)
2/3 cups unsweetened, shredded coconut
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup almond butter (or any nut butter)
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup or less chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a medium to large mixing bowl.
Form into balls then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks (I myself am lazy and just snack on it by the spoonful).

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Oh and not only does this recipe follow at least two of Katie’s 10 foundational baby steps, it’s compliant with a vast array of allergies.

For bonus points, it’s simple enough that your kids could whip a batch themselves!

What is your favorite comfort food?

Healthy Food vs. Comfort Food with Gluten-Free Energy Ball Recipe