Soul food may sound like an oxymoron, but it doesn’t have to be. Though traditionally, soul food has been associated with a high-fat, unhealthy diet, it can actually be made much healthier. It is possible to make soul food healthier by controlling the portions and ingredients used to make it.
One way of making soul food healthier is by substituting certain ingredients. Traditional dishes such as fried chicken can be made by baking instead of frying.
Other recipes such as macaroni and cheese can be made lighter by using low-fat milk and cheeses instead of whole milk and full-fat cheese. Additionally, when cooking vegetables, use less oil and butter than is traditionally called for.
When making dishes such as collard greens or black-eyed peas, use low sodium broth instead of ham hocks or bacon bits for added flavor. This will reduce the amount of sodium in the dish without sacrificing flavor.
Furthermore, adding more vegetables to soul food recipes is an easy way to make them healthier. For example, adding bell peppers to cornbread or sweet potatoes to macaroni and cheese will add vitamins, minerals and fiber without significantly changing the taste.
Another way to make soul food healthier is by controlling portion sizes. To maintain a healthy diet, individuals should not eat more than six ounces of meat at one meal. Portioning out foods such as macaroni and cheese into smaller servings can help people avoid eating too much in one sitting.
In conclusion, there is no reason why traditional soul food cannot be made into a healthy meal that still tastes great. By substituting certain ingredients with lower fat options, adding more vegetables and controlling portion sizes one can enjoy delicious soul food while maintaining a healthy diet. So yes – there is indeed such a thing as healthy soul food!