Christmas is just a few days away and with that comes good times, good food and sometimes a little extra around the waistline.
There’s no reason why any Holiday dinner can’t be healthy and tasty, without being full of fat.
I’m going to share with you six ways that you can Enjoy Your Christmas Guilt Free.
1. Add dark, fresh greens.
Growing up in the south, collard greens were a common dish in our home but I don’t always find them where I live now. So, I had to learn to use other veggies for Holiday meals. These days when collards can’t be found, some of the greens I incorporate into our meals are asparagus, green beans, broccoli, snap peas, bok choy, and kale. These are just a few of what we eat in our home.
Go ahead and be creative! The sky is the limit with what you can do with these veggies. I’ll add to soups, quiches, stir frys or just sauté with a little olive oil and garlic.
2. You can STILL have your stuffing!
Confession…I love dressing (as we call it back home) or stuffing and I could probably eat it every day. The thing though, is that some of the ingredients in stuffing also cause inflammation in my body. It also has a lot more calories that I rather save for an extra glass of wine.
To save calories and to feel better, I had to find a new stuffing to have and came across THIS one that I’m sharing with you. It’s delicious and can be made anytime of year.
3. Add flavor to your dishes by using orange, lime or lemon zest or fresh herbs.
Fresh herbs pack a whole lot of flavor as do orange, lemon or lime zests. No longer will you need as much salt, butter or other ingredients. That old saying “sometimes less is more” can be very true when cooking.
4. Skip all the sweeteners – glazed hams, sugary sweet potatoes and desserts can easily add in unnecessary calories.
Some alternative ideas are…
Roasting sweet potatoes and sweetening them with cinnamon and nutmeg instead.
Make a ham and create your own glaze from pure maple syrup or locally grown honey instead. Or, add cloves and pineapple rings on top.
Instead of a sweet pie, make fruit salad with a delicious cream cheese dip (My kids favorite!) or a banana ice cream.
There are many, many recipes on the Internet and you should be able to find one that you and your family will enjoy.
If you need help, I’ve pinned TONS of recipes and you’re welcome to browse through my boards. Click here to access them.
5. Reserve your spot in our FREE 5 Day Clean Eating Challenge that begins January 5. It can be just the jump start you desire to get back on track or start a healthier lifestyle.
6.. Lastly and most important…ENJOY the day – No matter what kind of meal you choose to have, ENJOY the day.
Holidays are meant for celebrations, love, life, relaxation and rejuvenation. One meal won’t ruin all your hard work when you eat healthy and exercise the majority of the time.
How are you spending Christmas? Comment back with what healthy tip you’re incorporating. Something that you share might just help someone else.
As always, thank you for reading, sharing and just being you!
Love,
Laura