Image via Complex Original
Eating healthy is much easier said than done. As noble as our intentions may be, hearing the words "healthy food" often makes us raise our eyebrows, groan and run for the nearest pizzeria. At the same time we can't in good conscience just give up on healthy food entirely. So, what to do? The solution is simple: fool yourself. Make foods that seem decadent, indulgent, and rich, but are secretly virtuous. Does that sound too good to be true? Check out these 10 recipes, from an incredibly creamy yet cream-less soup, to an addictive reincarnation of the potato chip. Let the trickery begin.
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Herbed Butternut Squash Chips
Goodbye, potato chips. These baked squash chips are crisp, salty, and a little bit sweet—but it's the aromatic mix of herbs that keeps us all coming back for another handful. Get the recipe on Food52.
Hoppin' John
This traditional Southern comfort dish is hearty, warm and chock full of vegetables. Paprika adds that smokiness bacon normally contributes—you won't even notice it's missing in this vegan version. Get the recipe on Food52.
Blueberry, Oatmeal, and Flaxseed Muffins
These muffins manage to be both hearty and airy at the same time. They're bursting with plump blueberries and have a generous punch of cinnamon, both of which make these bad boys seem much sweeter. Get the recipe on Food52.
Roasted Carrot Soup
Roasting the carrots gives them sweet, earthy depth, and infusing the broth with ginger before making the soup ensures a gentle but pervasive heat. We still don't understand how such a simple, cream-less recipe can turn out such a rich and creamy soup, but we aren't about to question it. Get the recipe on Food52.
Roasted Sausage with Broccoli and Fennel
A mix of broccoli, fennel, and sausage makes for a quick and easy dinner while also hitting all the flavor, color, and texture notes any eater could ask for. Whole-grain mustard and a dash of cayenne add a friendly kick. Get the recipe on Food52.
Yogurt Bread with Molasses
Breakfast has been reinvented: this simple homemade bread is hearty, healthy, moist, and just barely sweet. Feel free to get creative by throwing in your favorite combination of dried fruit or nuts. Get the recipe on Food52.
Moro's Warm Squash and Chickpea Salad with Tahini
This is a salad that eats more like a gratin, without the cheese hangover. Warm, roasted squash and filling chickpeas get coated in a flavorful tahini sauce and sprinkled with cilantro and chopped red onion. Get the recipe on Food52.
Smoky Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili
This sweet, smoky, and flavorful chili recipe has plenty of nutrients from the black beans and sweet potatoes, and loads of heat from chili powder and chipotle peppers. Get the recipe on Food52.
Brown Rice Jambalaya-ish
This spicy, protein-packed jambalaya is overloaded with shrimp, chicken, and hearty slices of Andouille sausage—you'll never feel like you're skimping. Get the recipe on Food52.
Diane Kochilas' Pasta with Yogurt and Caramelized Onions
This secret just might change your life: dress pasta with Greek yogurt for all of the creaminess of alfredo and none of the artery clogging. Don't forget the topping—caramelized onions and a generous sprinkle of grated pecorino. Get the recipe on Food52.
