HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY HOLIDAY, JUST BECAUSE…

It may not be New Year’s yet but it’s still a great time to make a resolution. Resolve to make food choices with real intent this holiday season rather than making food choices “just because.” Making healthier food choices and creating healthier eating habits can be the best gift you give yourself and your family. Check out these suggestions for setting a healthier holiday eating resolution…

Just because you’re offered something to eat, doesn’t mean you have to eat it. With it being the holidays, sweet and high calorie foods are going to be magically appearing left and right. Learn to politely say no every now and then when offered unhealthy and unnecessary foods. Unless it’s your dear sweet grandma offering the pecan pie to you, don’t feel pressured to eat it. Even then, just eat enough to keep grandma happy.
Just because your stuffing or mashed potatoes recipes call for a full stick of butter doesn’t mean you have to make them with a full stick of butter. Cut it down to ½ stick. It’ll be fine—butter isn’t a vital ingredient for those types of dishes. Or, if you plan to pour gravy over your stuffing and mashed potatoes, you can make them without any butter. Save those calories for the good stuff–dessert.
Just because someone personally bakes and delivers homemade cookies or brownies to you, doesn’t mean you have to eat them all. Eat one or two and then pass the rest on to someone else—After all, it is the season for giving.
Just because you love traditional desserts, doesn’t mean you have to make them in the traditional way. Instead of making mince meat pie (which has a lot of extra fat and calories in the crust alone), try making a healthier version by tossing some apples, figs, raisins, nutmeg, and cinnamon into the Crockpot. Top it off with some frozen yogurt and a guilt-free conscience.
Just because it’s better for you, mix the healthy with the not-so-healthy. Try mixing olive oil with your butter (room temperature) or mixing plain Greek yogurt with your sour cream. Make the perfect concoction and then make the perfect decision by using only a little bit instead of a lot.
Just because you’ve “always done something” doesn’t mean you have to continue to do it. Maybe you’ve always made your world famous banana bread with 1 cup of sugar. Try something new–use extra-ripe bananas and eliminate or reduce the sugar. The bananas naturally become sweeter as they ripen so there’s no real need for the sugar.
Just because a recipe doesn’t call for fruits or vegetables doesn’t mean you can’t add them to the recipe. Look for opportunities to give your favorite dishes a healthy make-over. Add fruits and nuts to oatmeal and bread pudding; add vegetables to rice and pasta dishes, and top off chocolate cake with fresh strawberries instead of ice cream.
Just because every holiday dessert looks delicious, doesn’t mean every holiday dessert should be eaten. Try practicing moderation throughout your day. If you know you’ll be eating dessert at the family Christmas party on Friday night, don’t eat dessert at the office Christmas party on Friday afternoon. Or just eat an extra small serving of dessert at both events—keep it balanced.