Tis’ the season for homemade cookies, fruit cake and egg-nog. The holidays don’t have to be unhealthy. There are simple tweaks to our plates that can help us stay healthy during the holidays!
Instead of filling up on desserts filled with sugar, try fruit for a naturally sweet treat! Fruit makes a wonderful dessert and can be enjoyed fresh, frozen or canned!
Baking often is a holiday tradition for many people. One way to make our baked goods a bit healthier is to use pureed fruits and apple sauce instead of butter or oil. Look for recipes that use pureed fruit and apple sauce!
Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables and use fresh herbs and spices instead of sugar and salt. Your plate will look appealing and the colors will brighten your meal!
Cut the fat and go easy on the gravy! Try skim evaporated milk instead of heavy cream. You can also try swapping low-fat plain yogurt when a recipe calls for sour cream. Gravy is high in fat, so use sparingly and a little goes a long way!
Swap your white dinner rolls for whole wheat dinner rolls for added color and flavor! Always look for the whole grain logo on the foods you buy, for a healthier option.
And finally, cheers to good health! Instead of reaching for that sugary beverage, try a nice glass of chilled water! Add fresh or frozen fruit or cucumber and mint for a delicious low sugar drink! This is a great way to help manage those extra calories!
Making small changes to our plate, can add up! Let’s make this holiday a healthy one!
For more information on this topic, you can check out the website www.choosemyplate.gov
