Holiday season is about family and food and all too often, adding a few extra pounds to our waistlines. But why not take a healthier approach to what we eat during this holiday season? People say it’s hard for them to eat healthy because they don’t want to stop eating their favorite foods. Here are some tips that will help you eat healthy.
• Don’t skip meals, eat small portions at regular frequency instead. Skipping meals can lead to overeating.
• Have a healthy breakfast. Crunchy Muesli with Soy milk and baked beans on multi grain toast makes for a great start to the day.
• Keep your energy levels up and curb your hunger by eating small meals and snacks every three to four hours such as Strawberry Greek Yogurt or a Granola Bar.
• Start your meal with a bowl of soup and salads. This is a great way to balance out calorie-rich foods.
• Style your veggies, leafy green salads, and fruits to add a fun element to your meal. You can even pair your food with some guacamole or yogurt dip for some extra flavour.
• Don’t deprive yourself of your favorite foods. Enjoy special holiday foods like shortbread cookies, crackers, turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, falafels, muffins and more but keep your portions in check by using smaller plates.
• Calories from drinks can add up quickly. Keep a check on all those fizzy and sugary drinks.
• Opt for healthy juices and smoothies instead of fizzy beverages.
• Balance out those extra holiday calories with some activity such as trekking and playing games, going for a swim to the pool, cycling through the park with kids.
Give your favourite holiday foods a healthy twist with these simple substitutes
• Use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes for more fibre.
• Make stuffing using whole grain bread, wild rice, or quinoa, instead of white bread.
• Substitute half the white flour with whole wheat flour.
• Use the flavorful brown bits in the pan instead of the fatty drippings. Try lower sodium broth instead of regular broth.
• Replace half the butter or oil in a recipe with apple sauce, pureed prunes, or mashed bananas.
• Use fresh vegetables and serve roasted carrots and parsnips, steamed green beans with lemon and herbs, herb-roasted mushrooms, or a spinach rather than breads.
Sticking to your healthy eating plans can be challenging during the holidays. With parties and endless temptations, it’s easy to let healthy habits slide during the holiday season, but now your healthy holiday guide is there to help you out!
View your holiday pantry here.
