Coping with Craving

Coping with Craving

Comfort food cravings change with the seasons, and the onset of cold weather usually brings a desire for more carbohydrates. Unless you live in an igloo, however, you probably don’t need to bulk up for the winter. Instead, you may be eating for emotional nourishment and turning to childhood favorites – macaroni and cheese is the classic example – that evoke positive experiences.

Reminiscences aside, you may want to rechannel cravings since those comfort dishes tend to be high in fat and sugar. Why not take a bubble bath, attend a yoga class, or get a massage? And, start eating better by preparing spa recipes designed to cut calories but not flavor. You don’t have to give up comfort foods entirely, says Kathie Graham, R.D., staff dietitian at Doral Golf Resort and Spa. Instead, make healthier choices. For instance, dark chocolate is better than milk chocolate because it contains more antioxidants, she says. Or, choose lower fat alternatives: sorbet or low-fat frozen yogurt topped with fresh fruit, hot chocolate made with skim milk, or non-creamy soups.

Spa-Garita

Makes one drink

For a refreshing, low-sugar, nonalcoholic margarita, sip on this mocktail from Red Mountain Spa.

Ingredients

4 ounces limeade

2 ounces orange juice

1 wedge lime, dredged in salt

Preparation

Mix the limeade and orange juice. Serve over ice, blended with ice, or blended frozen.

Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Nutritional information

Per three-ounce serving: 77 calories, 0 fat, 0 mg. cholesterol

Whole-Wheat Veggie Pizza

Makes 6 individual pizzas

This low-fat, high-fiber pizza topped with your favorite grilled vegetables is a signature recipe from Doral Golf Resort and Spa. Compared to 500 calories normally hiding in just one cheesy pepperoni slice, this one weighs in at less than 280 for the entire pizza.

Italian Herb Pizza Dough Ingredients

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1/3 ounce yeast

1 cup high-gluten flour

1/3 tsp. thyme

2/3 cup water

1/3 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. salt

1/3 tsp. basil

Toppings

18 ounces Spa Tomato Sauce (recipe below)

6 ounces part-skim mozzarella

Assortment of vegetables: artichokes, mushrooms, onions, peppers, spinach, tomato.

Preparation

Prepare Spa Tomato Sauce in advance. Combine all ingredients in mixer with bread hook and knead until smooth. Add water by the tablespoon if dough is dry. Lay the dough on a floured surface and cover with a cloth, letting it stand until double in size. While you wait for the dough to rise, grill or roast vegetable toppings.

Preheat oven to 500℉. Punch down the dough and divide into six pieces. Roll each with floured rolling pin. Spread three ounces of tomato sauce over each pizza crust. Sprinkle 1 ounce of grated cheese over each pizza. Top each with grilled veggies of your choice. Place pizza in oven and bake until crust is golden brown and crispy.

Spa Tomato Sauce

Makes six 3-ounce portions

Based on your preference, adjust the recipe by adding peppers, mushrooms, more garlic, onions, or herbs. You can double the amount of sauce and freeze extra in an airtight container for future use.

Ingredients

1 tsp. olive oil

1/2 onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, chopped

1/8 cup tomato paste

1 pound low-sodium

canned tomatoes, diced

1/2 tbs. fresh oregano, chopped

1/2 tbs. fresh basil, chopped

1 fresh bay leaf

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Lightly coat skillet with olive oil and heat. Sauté onion until transparent; add garlic and sauté until soft. Add tomato paste and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add herbs and seasoning. Simmer 45 minutes. Remove from heat and purée.

Nutritional information

Per pizza: 256 calories, 6 grams fat, 16 mg. cholesterol. Add 7 calories per ounce of veggie toppings.

Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Miami, FL: www.doralresort.com; (800) 71-DORAL.