The Holiday season is well and alive and dedinitely one of my favorite parts of the year. However, eating healthy is not always an easy thing to do in the midst of the holiday cheer. In fact, let’s be honest: this time of year is practically a nutritional minefield. And eating healthy is the farthest thought from the average person’s mind.
Family members travel from a myriad of distances to come together to enjoy each other’s presence, while they celebrate the end of the year and bring in a promising new one. And along with the good times and love excahanged, comes good ol holiday food, which in most cases is NOT healthy AT ALL. And yes, this makes things challenging for those in pursuit of healthy living 365 days a year.
However, where there is a will, there is a way!
So during this time, in order to enjoy yourself without regretting it later, according to Heart of Cool trainer, Shaun Spencer, finding healthier foods to consume is key.
Below are some great options that Shaun recommemds that are both healthy and tasty and sure to help us enjoy Christmas and the New Year without totally falling off. I also added some of my healthy favorites also.
Always remember per Shaun’s instruction, portion size is key as moderation is everything, even when eating healthy! If you do decide to splurge a bit, no worries. Just be smart about it and refrain from overindulging in eggnog, creamy dips and soups, buttery mashed potatoes and pecan pie. Check out his snack suggestions in the gallery above..
Enjoy my friends!
Cris’ healthy favorites found on www.cookinglight.com
“Chocoholics, rejoice! This sweet treat (in moderation, of course) is connected with health benefits. Clinical studies show that eating small amounts of chocolate (one piece a day―about 30 calories’ worth) lowered systolic blood pressure by 2.9 mm/Hg. That in turn may lower your risk of stroke or coronary heart disease.
Choose dark chocolate containing at least 70 percent cocoa solids. Those contain higher levels of the antioxidant flavonoids responsible for its heath benefits. Several long-term studies have found that this type of dark chocolate may help lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and increase HDL (good cholesterol).”
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“Legend holds that Native Americans shared cranberries with the Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving in 1621. There is evidence that they were well aware of some of the medicinal benefits of these tart, antioxidant-rich berries.
They were on to something. Cranberries are low in calories and rich in fiber, and potassium, which makes them a perfect part of a healthy diet. In addition, these pretty little berries contain unique compounds with antibacterial properties that may help prevent urinary tract infections.”
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“Green beans are one of the healthiest foods you can eat during the holidays (or any time of year). They’re a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, manganese, dietary fiber, potassium, folate, and iron. They key is how you prepare them. Drowning them in butter or calorie-laden cream sauce is the best way to negate those benefits with excess fat and calories. Best bet? Boil or steam them, and use healthful seasonings (and even butter, in moderation).”
