10 Breakup Comfort Foods You Won't Feel Bad Indulging In

It's the oldest cliche in the book: Reeling from the news that your S.O. wants to break up, you hightail it to the kitchen and seek solace in a big, delicious tub of Rocky Road.

Many of us reach for sweets in response to stress -- and there's a reason for that. According to a recent study, sugar reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol in a way that artificial sweeteners like aspartame do not. So sugary foods like ice cream and donuts do have a short-lived calming effect when you're upset -- but they're not exactly good for you.

So to get you eating and feeling better post-split, we rounded some healthier versions of classic comfort foods. (Sure, some may take a little longer to whip up than simply ordering takeout, but if you're newly single, you probably have a lot more time on your hands.)

Below, nutritionist and Nutrition Diva's Secrets for a Healthy Diet author Monica Reinagel weighs in on our picks.

Swap your standard grilled cheese for a cauliflower crust grilled cheese

theironyou.com

"All the comfort of gooey grilled cheese without the bread -- plus you get to cross off another two servings of veggies for the day!" Get the Cauliflower Crust Grilled Cheese recipe by The Iron You

Swap an ice cream shake for a cookie dough protein “Blizzard”

nutritionistinthekitch.com

"The 'ice cream' is vegan. All the creamy comfort of a fast food shake but only a third the calories and sugar and twicethe protein."Get the Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein "Blizzard" recipe by Nutritionisti In The Kitch

Swap pizza for skinny sausage parmesan-stuffed eggplant

bakerbynature.com

"Just enough sausage and cheese to make it satisfying, plus lots of veggies and fresh herbs to pack in the nutrients. Garlic, onions, peppers and tomatoes are anti-inflammatory. (Although sadly, not in the way that'll fix those swollen eyes!)" Get the Skinny Sausage Parmesan-Stuffed Eggplant recipe by Baker By Nature

Swap instant ramen for gluten-free instant noodle cups

glutenfreeonashoestring.com

"Fresh vegetables and savory miso broth are ahuge upgrade from the salty MSG-laden packet of flavoring in that instant ramen you may be tempted to make post-split. If you're not gluten intolerant, this works just as well with regular ramen."Get the Gluten-Free Instant Noodle Cups recipe by Gluten-Free On A Shoestring

Swap that bag of Doritos for Doritos-flavored popcorn

naturalchow.com

"Popcorn is my go-to when I need a good crunch. Whole grain, low in calories and a savory vitamin-packed topping makes a good thing even better." Get the Healthy Doritos-Flavored Popcorn recipe by Natural Chow

Swap a calorie-laden cocktail for a skinny grapefruit margarita

wineandglue.com

"Fresh grapefruit juice packs a nice vitamin C punch. Although keep in mind that even low-calorie drinks can add to your blues if consumed to excess." Get the Skinny Grapefruit Margarita recipe by Wine And Glue

Swap mac and cheese for spaghetti squash no-mac & cheese

deliciousbydre.com

"Spaghetti squash makes a great vehicle for any kind of sauce including this cheesy one. Instead of empty calories from refined wheat flour, you're getting extra servings of vitamin-rich vegetables." Get the Spaghetti Squash No-Mac & Cheese recipe by Delicious Dre

Swap store-bought cookies for healthy peanut butter oatmeal cookies

theskinnyfork.com

"These cookies aren't low calorie but they're packed with whole grains and fruit instead of butter and brown sugar. Use dark chocolate chips for bigger hit of antioxidants and store the rest in the freezer to avoid overindulging."Get the Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie by The Skinny Fork

Swap a Snickers bar for chocolate-covered blueberries

chocolateandcarrots.com

"It's not your imagination; chocolate really does contain mood-boosting chemicals. Pairing it with blueberries adds an antioxidant bonus and trims the calories. But these are so delicious, you might want to make just a half (or a quarter) of a batch at a time. Or call a good friend to share." Get the Chocolate-Covered Blueberries recipe by Chocolate And Carrots

Swap a donut for a grain-free baked almond donut