The holiday season is steamrolling forward and not slowing down. I cannot believe it is only 5 days away! My Christmas tree is being trimmed this afternoon. My son did cut one down and it is in the stand. I am beginning to feel like it is the Christmas season.
I want to wish you and yours a
Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy 2014
Yesterday I said I would share some holiday swaps that may help you handle the tempting treats and glorious dinners.
Holiday Swap #1 – Go for lean, white meat turkey to get the most bang for your calorie-buck. Dark meat has about 15% more calories and 30-40% more fat than light meat. If you prefer the dark meat, then at least take off the skin since that is where most of the fat (added calories) is.
Holiday Swap #2 – Replace the eggnog with a hot or mulled apple cider. Here’s one drink to stay clear of this holiday season. A single serving averages 343 calories, 150 milligrams of cholesterol, and 21 grams of sugar! This is without the whipped topping or Bourbon boost.
Holiday Swap #3 – Go orange! Instead of white potatoes have sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are full of alpha and beta carotene. The body converts these compounds into the active form of vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes, bones and immune system healthy.
Holiday Swap #4 – Have pumpkin pie instead of other sugary desserts. You can save about 200 calories by choosing pumpkin pie (300 calories a slice) over pecan pie (about 500 calories). With the pumpkin you’re getting vitamin A (because it is orange), calcium, iron and fibre. Another option is to skip the crust entirely — that’s where most of the fat lurks — and save another 100 or so calories.
Holiday Swap #5 – Choose lower calorie beverages. If you are going to be having alcoholic beverages then everything else you drink should be calorie free. Skip the pop, coffees and juices. Drink lots of water to avoid the dehydration that comes along with drinking too much. If you’re watching your waistline, drink vodka! Ok, in moderation, but the clear alcohol is the best choice when selecting a drink at a bar or a party. It’s only 104 calories per 1.5 ounces and contains NO carbs. The worst kind of liquor? Draft beer. It has 13.2 carbs per serving. Another alternative would be to have wine spritzer, a portion-controlled alternative that will help you save calories. Replace 2 ounces of wine with club soda. A 5-ounce glass of red or white wine has about 150 calories, and club soda has no calories, so by replacing just two ounces of the wine already saves you some calories for that slice of pumpkin pie with the crust.
Finally a holiday tip: DO NOT SKIP MEALS! Limit your intake of calories leading up to the big day. Eat breakfast and a protein-packed lunch before the big feast. If you starve yourself during the day, you could wind up SO hungry that by the time you sit down at the dinner table you eat WAY too much food.
Enjoy your holiday season with your family and friends. Enjoy the great food in moderation, because life is too short to feel guilty.
I will be breaking from blogging and my computer until after Christmas, so I can spend time with my family. I will begin posting before the New Year. Looking forward to sharing my nutrition and lifestyle journey with you in 2014.