Healthy holiday foods can help you enjoy the festivities while maintaining your healthy lifestyle. There are so many tempting foods during the holidays but you can find healthy alternatives so you don’t feel like you are missing out.
Healthy alternatives are easier than you think. In some cases, you can just replace a few ingredients to make dishes healthier. For other foods, it’s the way that you prepare them that control how healthy they are for you. You can also take your favorite foods and create a new dish that you may find you like even better!
Healthy holiday foods
Whether you want to plan a more traditional meal or switch things up this year, here are a few healthy dishes you might want to try.
Herb-Roasted Turkey: Ham and turkey are two popular main dishes this time of year. If you like both, herb-roasted turkey is a healthier choice! Traditional glazed ham can be less healthy because of the sugary sauce and high sodium counts. Roasted turkey is much lower in fat while providing a great source of protein to your diet. Get the Herb-Roasted Turkey Recipe.
Green Beans with Orange and Almond Gremolata: Traditional green bean casseroles are loaded with processed canned soups and fried onions, making them high in sodium and saturated fat. Try cooking green beans with orange and almond gremolata, an Italian condiment made of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. Made with just a little olive oil and roasted almonds, this dish is a lower-carb alternative with healthy fats. Read the Green Beans with Orange and Almond Gremolata Recipe.
Mashed Cauliflower: Mashed potatoes are a popular dish for the holidays, but they can pack a lot of calories per serving. One way to avoid those calories and indulge in something much healthier is to replace the potatoes with mashed cauliflower. If replacing it entirely makes you skeptical, try 50/50 with half potatoes and half cauliflower, that way you can keep the original texture but still add vegetables into the mix. Try this mashed cauliflower recipe.
Cinnamon Apple Chips: As a sweet treat. try homemade cinnamon apple chips. This quick and easy treat is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Lightly sprinkle cinnamon over thinly sliced apples and bake. In minutes you can indulge in a healthy treat. Get the Apple Chips recipe.
With a little planning, you can have a great holiday without feeling deprived of festive foods and fun.
Fresh Fit Foods
The holidays can be a busy and stressful time. If you are having trouble keeping up with everything and still eating healthy every day, we’re here to help with healthy prepared meals. We can take the stress of food prep off your plate as you prepare for the holidays. You may even want to consider buying a meal plan for someone you love as a gift this holiday. Fresh Fit Foods offers healthy lifestyle, vegan, paleo, and senior meal plans.