The past week has been a perfect time for some “comfort food,” and it appears that will hold true in the days and weeks to come.

When snow is blowing in the wind or piling up on the ground, there’s not much that is more comforting than a good, warm meal. And when the mercury dips into the single digits — or even below zero — a steaming cup of hot chocolate or a piping hot bowl of soup can taste and feel just right.

When people think of comfort food, though, they might conjure up some favorites that are not so good for their overall health. Many recipes for creamy soups, for instance, call for fatty ingredients such as heavy cream or milk. A lot of tasty recipes have a high salt content, or they may be full of sugars and carbohydrates.

But, that doesn’t have to be the case. With the right cookbook or a good search on the internet, it’s fairly easy to come up with a healthier alternative that still hits the spot. And, it’s pretty simple to learn some techniques that will allow you to make substitutions and adjustments to make any dish a little better for you.

My latest adventure in cooking from scratch involves a new form of potato soup. My mom, the late Grace Compston, was apt to whip up a pot of potato soup just about any time. Usually, it was accompanied by a big dish full of golden corn bread. And once it had been made, the leftovers could be served for any meal, even as a cold soup for lunch in the summertime.

Mom’s recipe was pretty basic — a big pot full of peeled, cubed potatoes, plenty of diced onion, milk, butter and salt. She would boil the potatoes and onions in water until soft. Then, excess water would be drained and the milk, butter and salt added in. Sometimes she would mash a portion of the potatoes, or she might add instant mashed potato flakes to thicken it up.

It was delicious, but I suspect it was off the charts in terms of calories and fat.

After learning a couple of weeks ago that leeks actually contain a compound that might help prevent the coronavirus from causing an infection, I decided I would make my own potato soup using leeks and other ingredients. I went online and found a recipe that sounded appealing and went to work.

The soup that I have made twice now seems pretty healthy with one little exception — the preparation begins with four or five slices of bacon, chopped and fried as the very first step. Everything else is built on the base of the bit of bacon grease that is left in the pan when the bacon pieces are removed to be drained.

That soup uses small potatoes with the peels left on, onions, garlic, celery and leeks. No milk, butter or cream is required. Instead, a creamy texture is achieved by blending a portion of the cooked soup and then returning it to the pot. The chopped bacon is stirred back in or used as a garnish.

My husband, Mike, absolutely loves it. So, between that and a pot of chili, we had several warm, flavorful meals that were just right for the cold and snowy weather that has been blowing through our region the past few days.

It was definitely nice to come home knowing that a soothing meal of “comfort food” was waiting for us. Those dishes gave us something to look forward to, and they also made it easy to get out evening meal ready. No stress, no mess — just a nice, hot meal.

What are some of your favorite comfort foods at this time of year? Do they come from old family recipes, or are they your own creations? When you make them, do you feel like you are doing your body a favor, or are you just indulging your taste buds without regard for your health?

Obviously, foods and drinks aren’t the only things that can be soothing when the weather becomes frigid. Perhaps a favorite blanket or throw can make all the difference in how comfortable you are while hanging out on the couch. If you have a fireplace, maybe a few logs burning in the hearth are just the ticket. Or, it could be that jumping on the treadmill or getting your blood pumping by doing some sit-ups or jumping jacks is your favorite way to warm up.

However you decide to deal with it, the cold weather can’t be avoided right now. Forecasters say temperatures will continue to hover in the teens and single digits on at least a few occasions in the coming days.

When you must go out, bundle up accordingly. Wear a warm coat and hat, and be sure to have some gloves. Layers, such as thermal undergarments, can make a big difference, too. And you definitely should make sure your vehicle is prepared for the weather when you take to the roads.

Stay safe and warm, and don’t be afraid to be adventurous when it comes to finding ways to soothe body and soul.