Eating for the Holidays

Are you uncertain what to eat over the holidays, since you have been unsuccessful being present when eating? Or are you unclear how to prepare tasty meals that won’t increase your cholesterol?

Healthy eating includes, healthy cooking. Included in this article are tips to decrease the overall caloric and fat content in meals. Planning creamy sauces and dips can be done the skinny way by using nonfat dairy products or using extra firm lite tofu. Tofu has the consistency that be implemented in desserts, puddings, whipped toppings, frostings, dips, dressings, and creamed sauces. Also soymilk and rice milk can be used in place of full fat or reduced fat dairy products.

De-fatting the turkey and stuffing are key components in serving lean poultry. While the bird is resting after being cooked, put the pan drippings in the freezer for 20 minutes and then remove the fat. Bake the stuffing in a casserole dish instead of in the turkey where it absorbs animal fat. Baste the turkey with broth instead of fatty drippings. Finally when preparing Matzo ball soup keeps removing the top layer of chicken fat from the broth.

Roasting your vegetables can enhance the flavor because it concentrates the natural sugars. Cut your veggies into wedges or strips, and sprinkle with fresh herbs and olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes. Remember that using canola oil instead of margarine, or extra-virgin olive oil for salad dressing would be heart healthy alternatives. It is important to keep in mind that using too much of a good thing can still contribute to the waistline.

When cooking meals, this can be a tempting time to sample meals that may lead to overeating. A key idea when preparing meals is to not begin when hungry. This will likely lead to over sampling of food. Keeping raw vegetables on hand is a handy alternative to curbing one’s appetite.

Dessert is always a hot topic over the holidays. Pies are commonly seen at various events. But why not try to be different this year and serve a fresh fruit cobbler!! Most of the fat and calories in the pie are in the crust, or the added butter mixed with the fruit.

A fresh fruit cobbler is satisfying to your sweet tooth and healthy too. Planning the appetizers for your party can be challenging. Some ideas include hummus (chick pea spread) with pita triangles, or a reduced fat cracker with your favorite low-fat spread. One can be extra creative by fooling their guests with soy cheese and crackers, or soy-veggie dogs wrapped. The traditional fruit kabobs with pineapple chunks, mango, strawberries and melon balls are always a hit.

Modify your traditional holiday menus and recipes to reduce fat, cholesterol and calories. For example:

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