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The Lifestyle Medicine department at Bozeman Health, under the direction of board-certified doctor Joseph Sofianek, continues its efforts to educate and support patients and our community on the path toward better health and well being. A growing team of doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and physical therapists are working together to give patients the education, resources, and support they need to make lifestyle choices that incorporate the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine.
The pillars are nutrition, activity, stress reduction, avoidance of risky substances, sleep health, and healthy social connections. Whole-food, plant-forward dietary patterns are the cornerstone of diets shown to support optimal health, aging, and a reduced risk of disease. And diets that fit these parameters are all over the news: Mediterranean, DASH, Flexitarian, and Mayo are just a few.
But knowing and doing aren’t synonymous. Sometimes implementing healthy changes can be challenging, especially because humans are such creatures of habit. So finding ways to make these new choices feel familiar can go a long way toward making the shift easier. Friends and family can be a great support network on the path toward health. And eating together is an important opportunity to form the connections we need.
One attainable goal could be to combine community with wholesome and healthy comfort food. Whole-food, plant-forward eating doesn’t have to be about only eating salads, smoothies, and rabbit food. There are opportunities to create deeply flavorful food inspired by cuisine from around the world. Fall is a fantastic time to explore some of these recipes and gather friends and family to enjoy together.
Traditionally, many comfort foods are prepared with high-saturated-fat ingredients such as cream, butter, sour cream, and fatty cuts of meat. A diet high in certain saturated fats has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, especially when paired with ultraprocessed foods. A diet high in overall fat also presents challenges for losing and maintaining healthy weight given the caloric density.
With a little creativity and willingness to experiment, many of our homecooked comfort foods can be created with healthier ingredients and be unapologetically delicious. This roasted veggie mac and “cheese” recipe is one such example. It features a cashew cream base that is also used in other scrumptious recipes including mushroom stroganoff, fettuccini alfredo, “cream” based soups, dips, dressings, and desserts.
So grab your shopping list, pick a day, and invite friends and family to share a delicious, healthy meal together.
For more information about Bozeman Health’s Lifestyle Medicine program, visit bozemanhealth.org/services/lifestyle-medicine.
RELATED RECIPE
Easy Vegan Mac & ‘Cheese’
With a little creativity and willingness to experiment, many of our homecooked comfort foods can be created with healthier ingredients and be unapologetically delicious.
