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Lighter Favorites

If you’re craving your favorite comfort foods but looking to lighten things up, this collection includes healthier takes on the classics.

You’ll find a variety of high-protein versions of classic snacks, wholesome side dishes, lightened-up desserts, and more.

Want something to satisfy your cravings while providing a healthy boost of protein? Try one of my protein-packed cottage cheese-based creations, such as vanilla (or chocolate!) cottage cheese mousse or cottage cheese mushroom dip.

If mashed potatoes are your go-to side dish, you’ll find a few revamped versions that will hit the spot without the heaviness. Indulge in carrot and swede mash, creamy mashed potatoes and cauliflower, or a simple yet satisfying side of mashed carrots –all of which capture the creaminess of the traditional mashed potatoes you know and love.

Love ice cream? You don’t want to miss my vegan chocolate ice cream or the refreshing raspberry-flavored version –both naturally sweetened and free of refined sugars. And for a dessert that allows you to have your cake and eat it, too, try my healthy apple cake or eggless chocolate cupcakes.

Whether you’re planning for the holidays, a casual dinner party with friends, or weekday family dinners, these recipes are the perfect way to lighten up the menu while still indulging in the flavors you love!

Pashtet in a jar with a flat knife with a bit of pate on top.

Pashtet Recipe (Russian Chicken Liver Pâté)

Two glasses with homemade juice.

How to Juice Without a Juicer (Juicing with a Blender)

Cottage cheese chocolate mousse in glass dessert bowls garnished with whipped cream, raspberries, blueberries, and mint leaves.

3-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Mango juice in a glass.

How to Make Mango Juice at Home (Easy Recipe)

Vanilla Chocolate Cottage Cheese Mousse in dessert glasses garnished with chocolate shavings.

Cottage Cheese Mousse Recipe (Vanilla and Chocolate)

Strawberry milk in a pitcher standing on marble background.

Strawberry Milk (Easy Homemade Recipe)

Mashroom dip in a red gratin dish standing on a kitchen towel.

Cottage Cheese Mushroom Dip Recipe (So Creamy!)

Collage of salads and side dishes. Text overlay saying: healthy sides for burgers.

Healthy Sides for Burgers (25+ Quick and Easy Recipes)

Carrot and swede mash in a bowl.

Carrot and Swede Mash Recipe (Easy Side Dish)

Potato and cauliflower mash in a bowl standing on a linen napkin. The mash is garnished with thyme leaves.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower (Easy Recipe)

Overhead shot of mashed carrots in a bowl standing on a tea towel.

Creamy Mashed Carrots Recipe (Simple and Delicious)

A collage of side dishes to serve with salmon including, black rice, peas and carrots, potato cucumber salad, romaine salad, steamed vegetables, quinoa salad, roasted vegetables, tomato salad, and asparagus. There is a text overlay, saying: salmon side dishes.

What to Serve with Salmon (30+ Best Side Dishes)

Two glasses with pineapple infused water with ice on marble background.

How to Make Pineapple Water (2 Easy Recipes)

Collage of verious sides for grilled chicken. Text overlay saying: healthy grilled chicken sides.

What to Serve with Grilled Chicken (35 Best Side Dishes)

A glass of apple juice. Another glass with juice behind. Some apples in the background.

How to Make Apple Juice with a Blender (Easy Recipe)

Whole Wheat Waffle Recipe

Whole Wheat Waffle Recipe

Spelt banana bread slices in a loaf pan. Top view.

Simple Spelt Banana Bread Recipe

Mixed baked fruit in a baking dish.

Fall and Winter Baked Fruit (No Added Sugar!)

Cooked pot barley in a bowl.

How to Cook Barley: a Guide to Cooking Pearl and Pot Barley

Hot apple cider in a pot. Garnished with orange and apple slices and cinnamon sticks.

Hot Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

Healthy peach crisp in a round baking dish.

Healthy Peach Crisp Recipe (No Flour, No Cornstarch)

Potato cucumber salad in a glass bowl. Top view.

Potato Cucumber Salad with Dill and Garlic

Close-up side view of the hot chocolate oatmeal in a grey bowl.

Hot Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe (Rich & Creamy)

A close-up side view of the pear cranberry crisp in a red baking dish.

Pear Cranberry Crisp

A close-up of the raspberry hot chocolate in a glass mug on a white plate with a spoon to the left and three raspberries on the right. Some raspberries and another mug in the background.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate (Rich & Creamy)

Close-up side view shot of the Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream on a white plate with two silver spoons on the left and some raspberry sauce on the right.

Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe (No Eggs)

Top view of the braised German Red Cabbage in a black pan standing on a purple napkin on a grey background.

Braised German Red Cabbage Recipe (Rotkohl)

30+ Healthy Soup Recipes.

30 Easy Healthy Soup Recipes for Fall and Winter

Collage of healthy party appetizers with a text overlay saying: 80 Party Appetizers.

80 Healthy Party Appetizers, Dips & Spreads

Salmon Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk in a blue bowl.

Salmon Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk

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Welcome!

Hey! Nice to meet you! My name is Maria, and this is my food blog. Here, I share my favorite healthy recipes, all prepared and photographed (with love) in my small kitchen. Thank you for stopping by!

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Roasted Rutabaga in a white dish on marble background. Top view.

How to Cook Rutabaga: 3 Easy Recipes + Tips & Tricks

Two glasses with pineapple infused water with ice on marble background.

How to Make Pineapple Water (2 Easy Recipes)

Cooked black rice in a round bowl standing on a purple napkin.

How to Cook Black Rice: the Best Methods + Tips & Tricks

Spelt banana bread slices in a loaf pan. Top view.

Simple Spelt Banana Bread Recipe

Top view of the raw beet salad in a bowl standing on a linen napkin.

Raw Beet Salad Recipe (Shredded or Spiralized)

Okroshka soup in a white bowl.

Okroshka (Russian Cold Soup)

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Disclaimer

The information provided on this blog is not to be used as therapy of any kind. Consult your healthcare provider if you intend to change your diet and always ensure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet. The information on this blog is for entertainment purposes only.

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The owner of this website, Maria Ushakova, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking MariaUshakova.com to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.

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  • Home
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    • by Course
      • Appetizers
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      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks
      • Soups
    • by Ingredient
    • by Category
      • All Recipes
      • Cooking Guides
      • Instant Pot
      • Lighter Favorites
      • Meal Prep
      • Recipe Roundups
      • Summer BBQ
      • Top 25
      • World Cuisine
    • by Holiday
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • New Year
    • by Diet
      • Dairy-Free
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      • Raw
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • by Season
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