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With the new year ahead, healthier eating habits become a part of new year resolutions. Since 2020 was a year of mastering the kitchen, your cooking skills can take on the challenge to turn comfort dishes into healthier ones.
Healthy eating doesn't necessarily mean eating only salads. Here are seven healthy comfort foods to fill up your belly and add nutrients to your diet.
Mac 'n' goat cheese
Everybody loves a bowl of mac and cheese, especially as a comfort dish. But in reality, how much better can you actually make it? Try switching up the beloved recipe by adding goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and spinach for a healthier version. This recipe is easy to make and will only take 15 minutes, so try it out for lunch as a healthier alternative on mac and cheese.
You can find the recipe for the mac 'n' goat Cheese here.
Chicken noodle soup
There is nothing more comforting than a bowl of chicken noodle soup during a winter evening. If you're feeling stuck with a classic chicken noodle recipe, try switching it up with this one for a low-calorie alternative. This version includes ginger and rice or wheat noodles to make things a bit healthier, but just as tasty. This recipe will take 30 minutes to make and is guaranteed to keep you warm or even help nourish you if you're not feeling too good.
You can find the recipe for chicken noodle soup here.
Black bean sweet potato enchiladas
This healthy Mexican-inspired dish might be just what you need for dinner this week. Protein-packed and completely vegetarian, black bean sweet potato enchiladas are filled with mouthwatering flavors that will have you obsessed. This easy recipe will take an hour to make, so you can feed the whole house with a healthy alternative on enchiladas.
You can find the recipe for black bean sweet potato enchiladas here.
Cauliflower risotto
Traditional creamy risotto is one of those special dishes that you can't make every week since it's time consuming, but this version of the recipe, filled with cauliflower instead of rice, promises a healthier and easier risotto to make. The same delicious flavors of risotto are incorporated in this recipe, but switches up the rice with cauliflower to add a lighter taste to the end result. This recipe will take 40 minutes to make and will satisfy any vegetarians looking for an easy, healthy dish.
You can find the recipe for cauliflower risotto here.
Turkey chili
With the cooler weather in Austin, there is no alternative to eating a bowl of chili on the couch and binge watching your favorite shows. Unless that recipe is a healthier version of it and is still considered a comfort dish. This slow cooker turkey chili recipe is simple, easy to make, affordable and jam packed with nutrients, vegetables and protein. With a 30 minute prep time, you can start the slow cooker in the morning and have your dinner ready eight hours later without having to do any work.
You can find the recipe for the slow cooker turkey chili here.
Spaghetti squash boats with chicken
Looking for an easy to make healthy evening meal for those colder nights? These spaghetti squash boats with chicken need to be your next meal. The perfect comfort dish, this recipe is simple and takes a little over an hour to make. Spaghetti squash is an easy ingredient to switch up your traditional meal, and is healthy enough to eat everyday. Add some bacon on top for a flavorful experience not even your kids can turn down.
You can find the recipe for spaghetti squash boats with chicken here.
Kale pesto pizza
Is there anyone who doesn't like pizza? Healthy alternatives to pizza have been made for years, but nothing beats a kale pesto pizza. Kale is a perfect ingredient for anyone looking to make their meals healthier, as it is packed with vitamins and proteins. This pizza is a delicious healthier take on everyone's favorite meal, and is easy enough to make at home. As long as you have 30 minutes to spare, this could be your next healthy dinner.
You can find the recipe for kale pesto pizza here.
Want to see one of these recipe's made?
Head to @austonianews on Instagram at 6 p.m. Wednesday where Austonia's Isabella Lopes will recreate one of these mouth-watering recipes on IG stories.
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Popular
Austin FC kept rival FC Dallas to a draw Saturday night as it pulled off a 2-2 comeback. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Despite a 2-0 deficit, there was a pot of gold for Austin FC after all as it celebrated its annual Pride Night with rainbows and a 2-2 comeback draw to FC Dallas Saturday night.
After three FC Dallas losses last season, the Dallas derby draw marks the first time Austin FC has tied against its Copa Texas rival. Austin continues to edge over FC Dallas as it sits at 3rd in the MLS West.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the match:
A somber start
¡Ya Basta! Enough! End Gun Violence. #uvaldestrong
— Los Verdes (@LosVerdesATX) June 26, 2022
📷 @arubiophotospic.twitter.com/3PiVdTPtik
Decked out in colorful hues for LBGTQ+ Pride, Verde fans started the match on a somber note as they held up banners to take a stand against gun violence before the match.
As the national anthem began, fans held up banners with the names of each child that was killed in the Uvalde school shooting and a plea to "end gun violence."
The supporters' section was also dotted with Pride flags and a "Bans off Our Bodies" banner in protest of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
FC Dallas earns a 2-0 lead
Paul Arriola is there to put it away and put @FCDallas ahead! pic.twitter.com/Z4AMmM6lp3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
That sober tone continued onto the pitch. With midfielder Daniel Pereira's absence due to a red card, the Verde and Black lost two goals to FC Dallas by the 70th minute of play.
FC Dallas played it sneaky for the first half of the match, giving Austin FC plenty of room to hold possession as it waited to strike on a Verde error. That mentality proved dangerous for Austin as Dallas' Paul Arriola took advantage of Brad Stuver's deflection to score the first goal of the night in the 57th minute of play.
Dallas struck once more as Brandon Servant pushed past the Verde line to score the second goal of the match.
#DTID double their lead!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
The substitute Brandon Servania with a fine finish within five minutes of coming on. 💥 pic.twitter.com/IZm0YsPxG5
Austin FC strikes back
Sebastián Driussi pulls one back!#AustinFC are still in this one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Yoi0x768jb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
But energy quickly returned to Austin's favor thanks to Designated Player Sebastian Driussi, who scooted past several FC Dallas defenders alongside Moussa Djitte to snag an unlikely first goal for Austin.
A full Verde comeback
Late drama in this Texas Derby!@AustinFC ties it up, Danny Hoesen with the diving header. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jk2f4fIEXG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
Austin's subs proved deadly as momentum returned to the home team toward the end of the match. A well-placed cross from Nick Lima—and a diving header from a fresh-legged Danny Hoesen—helped the team secure the draw with a second Verde goal in the 84th minute of play.
Hoesen, who was Austin's first starting striker last season, has now scored two goals with the team after a yearlong injury stuck him on the bench.
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(Bob Daemmrich)
Hours following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday, about 1,000 people gathered in Republic Square with signs calling for change.
The rally, organized by the group Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights Texas, started at the federal courthouse on Republic Square on Friday at 5 p.m. before the crowd marched to the Texas Capitol. More protests are expected to ensue over the weekend.
People showed up with all types of signs like Mindy Moffa holding up, "Keep your filthy laws off my silky drawers."
Austin joined cities across the country that saw protests for a women's right to an abortion after the ruling.
According to a recent UT poll, 78% of Texas voters support abortion access in most cases.
Sabrina Talghade and Sofia Pellegrini held up signs directed at Texas laws. A Texas trigger law will ban all abortions from the moment of fertilization, starting 30 days after the ruling. When state legislators passed the trigger law last summer, it also passed laws for more protection of firearms, including the right to open carry without a permit.
Lili Enthal of Austin yells as around 1,000 Texans marched to the Texas Capitol.
From the Texas Capitol, Zoe Webb lets her voice be heard against the Supreme Court ruling.
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