Holiday Eating tips

With Thanksgiving upon us, and the rest of the holiday season around the corner, it is that time of the year again for big family dinners and general largesse that we deny ourselves the previous months. However, weight gain is not a seasonal thing, and the one to two pounds that according to The New England Journal of Medicine an average American gains during the holiday season may stick with you well into the New Year. That does not mean that you need to go Ghandi on yourself, only that you need to vary your menu and add a few nutritional dishes among the other, more fattening holiday staples. Here are some healthy eating tips during the holidays that may you may find useful.

Sweet potato for instance is not without its share of calories, but it also has a number of nutrients, like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and iron. Moreover, a Harvard Medical School Study concluded that regular consumption of sweet potatoes can lower the risk of breast cancer by 25%. Stuffing, on the other hand, can have more than 500 hundred calories in a single scoop, thanks to all the butter and high fat meats that it includes. The butter at least can be replaced with low-sodium chicken broth.

Thanksgiving without turkey would be like a John Travolta film without a choreography. Fortunately, this galliform bird is low in fat and high in vitamin B, zinc and potassium, which reduce blood cholesterol levels and offer protection from cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, turkey can enhance the immune system and help in healing processes as well. Conversely, another standard like gravy is pretty much liquid fat, adding an extra layer of calories to whatever it is poured on. In terms of desserts, stick to pumpkin pie (fiber and Vitamin A) and avoid pecan pie (up to 500 calories and 27 grams of fat in one slice), and you will be able to give your dinner a happy ending.

Tweet This Post