Although the figures are often blown out of proportion, the average American gains around two pounds of weight during Christmas. Add in the two-pound weight gain during the Thanksgiving season, and you’re looking at a bit of a conundrum. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
This Christmas, you can always eat just a bit healthier. While turning down sweets is always smart, use a few of these ideas to keep your Christmas cooking a bit healthier. At DLJ Produce, while we supply the USA with fresh veggies and fruits, we also love providing you with healthy, tasty tips you can implement at home.
1. Get a Healthy Dose of Veggies
With ham, turkey, and other meats on the menu during Christmas, it’s easy to forget about vegetables. But it’s just what your body needs. Not only do you get the right nutrients, but you can also fill up on low-calorie options that reduce your hunger for unhealthy options. When in doubt, add some veggies to your dinner or have a plate of vegetables as an appetizer.
2. Go Vegan
In recent years, the number of meat-flavored or textured foods has increased dramatically. So rather than scarf down half a pig, you can always go with a vegan option.
Today, you can find vegan turkey, bacon, ham, and even beef that goes great in casseroles or as an entree all its own. Your guests probably won’t even notice the difference.
3. Skip the Butter
Butter is delicious—plain and simple. It’s a flavor enhancer that gives almost every food a delicious texture and taste. However, it’s high in fat in calories—two things you don’t really need when food is everywhere come Christmas.
Fortunately, you have plenty of options for butter substitutes, including:
- Pumpkin puree
- Coconut or olive oil
- Ghee
- Greek yogurt
- Avocado
Any of these will work for the consistency and texture you want without all the added fats and calories.
4. Make Less Food
It may seem obvious that you can eat healthier if there’s less food in the house, but you also want to make sure that everyone is well-fed during the Christmas season.
The only logical solution is to make just enough food to feed your guests. A surefire solution is to ask your guests to bring some of their own food. When they leave, they take the food with them and you’re left without the temptation.
5. Fruit as a Stocking Stuffer
Another novel way to eat healthier during Christmas is to forego the traditional candy stocking stuffer in lieu of fruit—it’s nature’s candy.
If you hang stockings in your family, fill them with apples, oranges, and other seasonal produce to avoid the sugars, fats, and calories that you find in Christmas candy.
6. Use Fresh Produce
While canned pumpkin pie filling and cranberry sauce have their rightful place at the Christmas dinner table, using fresh produce will always yield the healthiest and most flavorful results. On top of that, you can support local markets and growers—giving them a great holiday season to boot.
So, if you have to decide between a frozen, canned, supermarket, or local produce, always go local. Your taste buds will be glad you did.
Do you have an amazing holiday recipe you want to share with our readers? Send us a message, we’d love to publish and credit you for your contribution.
