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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!

Salmon Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk in a blue bowl.

Salmon Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk

Overnight steel cut oats in two jars standing on a purple tea towel. The oats are topped with blueberries.

How to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats (Easy Recipe)

Clean eating spelt crackers on white background.

Healthy Spelt Crackers Recipe

Dairy-free zucchini soup in white ramekins. Garnished with dill.

Dairy Free Zucchini Soup with Hard Boiled Eggs

Blueberry frozen yogurt in glass bowl. Decorated with fresh blueberries.

Blueberry Frozen Yogurt (No-Churn Recipe)

Vegan raspberry ice cream in a glass with a silver spoon in it.

Vegan Raspberry Ice Cream (No Churn Recipe)

Picture collage of verious dishes. Text overlay saying: Healthy recipes for summer BBQ.

Clean Eating BBQ Menu Recipe Ideas

Coconut milk chocolate pudding in a jar, garnished with strawberries and chocolate shavings.

Chocolate Mousse Without Eggs (Dairy-Free)

Celery root soup in white bowls. Garnished with chopped asparagus.

Celery Root Soup with Asparagus

Spelt raspberry muffins on white background with whole raspberries around them.

Healthy Raspberry Muffins

Vegan mango ice cream in a glass dessert bowl.

Vegan Mango Ice Cream (No-Churn Recipe)

Homemade sugar free granola in a glass jar.

Homemade Sugar Free Granola

Spelt buttermilk pancakes on a white plate, garnished with berries and maple syrup.

Spelt Pancakes Recipe (Light & Fluffy)

Healthy turkey meatballs in black skillet. Garnished with parsley.

Healthy Turkey Meatballs in Sauce (Easy Recipe)

Mixed Greens Salad topped with roasted veggies and goat cheese, served on a blue plate.

Mixed Greens Salad with Roasted Veggies

Healthy oatmeal pancakes with the apple topping on a white plate.

Healthy Oatmeal Pancakes

Collage of healthy scones with the text overlay saying: "10 Healthy Scone Recipes" and " Get the Full List at MariaUshakova.com".

10 Healthy Scone Recipes for Adults and Kids

Close up shot of a slice of the healthy apple cake.

Healthy Apple Cake (Easy Recipe)

Vegan chocolate cupcakes on a blue place mat. Silver spoons to the right.

Eggless Chocolate Cupcake Recipe (Vegan)

A bowl of the creamy cauliflower and carrot soup seasoned with red pepper flakes.

Cauliflower and Carrot Soup

Roasted salmon with vegetables served on a white plate with lemon slices to the left.

Roasted Salmon with Vegetables

Healthy coffee smoothie garnished with toasted coconut in a tall glass.

Healthy Coffee Smoothie with Toasted Coconut

Tuna chili in a bowl garnished with avocado and red onion.

Easy Tuna Chili Recipe

Four healthy chocolate waffles topped with fresh raspberries and chocolate sauce. Top view.

Healthy Chocolate Waffles

Oatmeal spelt cookies in a bowl.

Oatmeal Spelt Cookies Recipe

Potato salad with avocado in a white bowl standing on a green napkin.

Potato Salad with Avocado

Baked apples with ricotta cheese on white plates. Garnished with cinnamon sticks.

Baked Apples with Ricotta Cheese

Chocolate and raspberry chia pudding in a glass. Fresh raspberries in the background.

Chocolate Raspberry Chia Pudding (Chia Dessert)

Vegan mushroom goulash in a pot, garnished with thyme. Top view.

Vegan Mushroom Goulash

Healthy blueberry sauce in glass jars.

Healthy Blueberry Sauce (Low Sugar, No Cornstarch)

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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.

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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

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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)

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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
  • Browse Recipes
    • by Course
      • Appetizers
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      • Drinks
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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
      • Winter
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  • Ingredient Index
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