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Charity Curley Mathews wrote that the best foods to eat with the family "were the same old love-handles-waiting-to-happen." She set out to remake the foods she deemed the worst for families. Here is her list of the top comfort foods and how she recommends making them healthy.

5 Comfort Food Makeovers Worth Trying

Bacon and Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese. It was the number one most popular recipe on iVillage for 2011. How to make it healthier: use whole wheat pasta, reduce cheese by one cup, add half a cup of pureed white beans and one cup of finely shredded carrot. Not as crazy as it seems, carrots are a natural fit for this kind of baked cheddar goodness.

Banana Bread. This breakfast treat is usually packed with a full cup of sugar and at least as much oil. How to make it healthier: Add another banana, use whole wheat flour, reduce the sugar by half and substitute half the oil (or melted butter) with applesauce. Add even more nutrition by replacing a quarter cup of flour with wheat germ or millet. Yes, millet.

Meatloaf. How to make it healthier: use ground turkey (or a combination of turkey and beef for diehard red meat eaters), double the amount of sauteed veggies called for, such as carrots, and throw in a half cup of pureed spinach for an extra nutritional boost. You'll never, ever notice it. Also substitute old-fashioned oats instead of breadcrumbs.

Peach Cobbler. How to make it healthier: Use whole wheat flour instead of white and reduce the sugar by half. For an extra shot of fiber, replace a quarter cup of flour with oat bran.

Pancakes from a Box Mix. Another breakfast favorite that usually ends in a food coma. How to make it healthier: This one is simple. Add half a cup of low-fat yogurt and a quarter cup of wheat germ, increasing the amount of milk to your batter as needed. Also throw in a cup of your family's favorite fruit: bananas, frozen peaches, diced apples all work beautifully. Round out this meal, especially if it's Breakfast-for-Dinner, with a protein-packed side of scrambled eggs and salmon.

How do you make traditional family food healthy? Would you try any of these?