Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

The average person gains between 2-5 lbs around this time of year... so let's just stop weight gain before it starts. You don't have to stop celebrating the holidays or enjoying yourself to stay healthy and on track with your goals through the New Year. The key is eating healthy throughout the holiday season and remembering portion control. For the rest of the courses, all you have to do is make the right choices that will allow you to indulge and enjoy. Just follow these tips!

Substitute Greek yogurt for your dip:

The savings from even a few small scoops quickly add up. Try this recipe for a veggie dip: 1 cup Greek yogurt, 2 medium cloves garlic, minced, 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste, 1 tablespoon chopped chives. In a bowl mix together all ingredients until well combined. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Chill before serving.

Drink a wine spritzer to save some alcohol calories (or don't drink!):

The easiest way to cut unnecessary calories this season is to cut back on alcohol. Replace 2 ounces of wine with club soda to make a spritzer. A 5-ounce glass wine has approx. 150 calories, and club soda has no calories, so replacing just 2 ounces has already saved you 60 calories.

Eat white meat:

The dark meat in your turkey has about twice the fat of turkey breast and about 40% more calories. The same amount of turkey breast without the skin is cutting back on about 70 calories as well as saturated fat.

Make homemade stuffing:

Make your own stuffing thats loaded with veggies. Sauté celery and onions and other cubed vegetables of your choosing (from carrots to water chestnuts) in 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive or coconut oil. Combine the mixture with cubes of whole-wheat bread, moisten with no- or low-sodium chicken broth, and add your favorite herbs before baking.

Skip the casserole & Eat fresh veggies:

Skip the canned "cream of" soup and French-fried onions — just cut and steam fresh green beans and sprinkle them with slivered almonds before serving. Eat your veggies first. They will help fill you up, and you’ll likely eat less of the higher calorie foods.

Dessert tips (the best part!):

You don’t have to forgo the sweets entirely, but choose your portions wisely and eat in moderation. Healthier dessert options may make portion control a little easier.

Follow these tips:

Replace the fats (such as oil and butter) in cakes and cookies with applesauce (the measurements remain the same).

For a healthier spin on frosting, try this Paleo frosting recipe {from The Urban Poser}: 1/3 cup warmed organic coconut butter, 2 tablespoons sugar-free honey, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tbs vanilla extract. In a small bowl, mix the coconut butter and the honey until it forms a thick paste, then add the lemon juice. If it's still super thick, add some water until desired consistency is achieved.

Compared with sugar, agave nectar has a lower glycemic index value. And because agave is sweeter than sugar, you need only about 1/2 as much of it. Just reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe by about a quarter cup and lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

Be prepared!

Don't just think about the Holidays. Set your meal plans throughout the week so that you stay healthy through the month. It's not a big deal if you have a slice of pie or way too much stuffing one day if you've been doing well the rest of the month..

Happy healthy holidays!!

#nutrition #cleaneating