Happy Healthy Holidays

It's that time of year again. With family gatherings and Christmas parties approaching fast, soon it will be time to start baking and menu planning. Pies, cookies, dips, eggnog and "mystery" fruitcake are just a few of the items on the holiday menu and if your trying to lose weight or keep those extra holiday pounds off, this season could pose a problem. Katherine Brooking MS, RD from Cooking Light lists some helpful "do's" and "don'ts" that can help keep Christmas dinner under control. 


First up on the list of healthy "do's" are sweet potatoes. Full of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, antioxidants and beta-carotene, this potato tastes just as good as it is healthy. Cranberries are another healthy holiday choice as they are packed with potassium, fiber and antibacterial properties.

Cocoa, our favorite holiday drink, makes it onto the list of healthy choices thanks to dark chocolate's antioxidant flavonoids which help lower systolic blood pressure (about 30g is the recommended daily serving of dark chocolate). Turkey, high in protein and low in calories, and green beans, full of iron, manganese, folate and vitamins to name a few, also make Brooking's list of healthy choices.

Then there are those holiday treats that are definitely not as healthy as they are tasty. Eggnog, rich in calories and saturated fat, comes first on Brooking's menu of "don'ts" followed by the ever-present calorie-loaded dips. Instead, Brooking suggests dipping into salsa or hummus with veggies. Creamy soups and mashed potatoes come next due to their tendency to be carry saturated fats and calories. However, by cutting out the pasteurized whole milk and butter we tend to overuse when preparing these dishes. Lasts on the menu of "don'ts" is pecan pie. One slice of this pie is loaded with sugar and over 500 calories.

So when it comes to planning your holiday menu or filling your plate at the countless upcoming Christmas parties, steer clear of those calorie and sugary treats. Choosing healthier alternatives like a sweet potato dish or roasted green beans is the best gift you can give your body this holiday season.