Holiday foods are often “loaded with creamy, fatty, sweet goodness,” says Pauline Hackney, clinical nutrition manager at Westchester Medical Center. But you needn’t deprive yourself during the festivities: Smart but tasty swaps can make a world of difference.
Holiday Foods to Skip |
Holiday Foods to Choose |
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Antipasto: Cured meats, high-fat cheeses, bruschetta, calorie-laden dips |
Antipasto: Uncured meats, hard cheeses, crunchy veggies, olives, olive oil - Advertisement -
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Glazed Ham: Even before the glaze adds tons of sugar, ham is full of salt, nitrates, and nitrites — bah, humbug! |
Turkey: Leaner than ham, with much less sodium. Opt for white meat, which has half the fat and fewer calories than dark meat. |
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Noodle Kugel: A decadent combo of white carbs, eggs, cottage cheese, milk, sour cream, sugar, butter, and cream cheese. |
Sweet Potatoes: Baked (or mashed with Smart Balance) sweet potatoes are fiber-rich, filling and loaded with vitamin A. |
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Pecan Pie: This sticky Southern staple is filled to the brim with corn syrup, sugar, molasses, and heaping helpings of butter. - Partner Content -
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Pumpkin Pie: It has 30 percent fewer calories than pecan pie and is full of vitamin A, calcium, and iron. |
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Eggnog: Hundreds of calories and lots of saturated fat |
Hot Apple Cider: Still delicious and festive but about half the calories and none of the fat. |
