That being said, a huge part of the holidays is about great food, cocktails and entertaining. No one wants to sacrifice all those things because of their diet. And now, they don’t have to!
Since we all look forward to those warm comforting smells and tastes of the season, cooking for the holidays shouldn’t have to compromise taste for nutrition. Here are some helpful hints on how to make your holiday dinner nutritious without compromising taste.
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Cut the Fat
Avoid adding extra fat to foods when cooking them. Let a turkey roast in its own juices instead of covering it with oil. If you are worried about it getting dry, put a can of beer in the pan while the turkey is roasting. The water from the beer will evaporate and keep the turkey nice and moist.
If you are making a salad, avoid oil-based or cream-based dressings and vinaigrettes. There are plenty of delicious ways to infuse flavor into a salad without compromising calories. For an Asian-inspired salad, squeeze some orange juice over your greens with a little bit of soy sauce, ginger and sesame seeds. You can also try adding crispy French-fried onions to a salad as a garnish—just a few spoonfuls are enough to add Homeintensity to any salad.
To get more flavor into your food, you can also try using more herbs and spices rather than calorie-rich sauces and gravies. Spices add incredibly sophisticated taste and flavor to meat and vegetables so that you won’t even miss those sauces.
Reduce the Sugar
By simply reducing the amount of sugar called for in a recipe, you can save a ton of calories. In most cases, cutting down on the sugar will not change the quality or outcome of the dessert, only the sweetness. Sometimes you can even make healthy substitutions for sugar such as apple sauce, honey or fruit juice.
For an even healthier holiday treat, try a fruit-based dessert such as a pear tart, stuffed apples or fruit-filled crepes. These desserts can be just as rich, satisfying, and sinfully delicious as other decadent desserts but a much healthier alternative.
Start with Soup
Starting a meal with a bowl of soup is a custom in many cultures, and it makes sense too. By eating a bowl of hot soup before your meal, you are more likely to eat less during the rest of the meal. Homemade chicken or beef soup is also a great way to get essential vitamins and minerals into your diet.
Eat Slowly
Christmas is all about family and friends. Use Christmas dinner to talk to them rather than to simply gorge down food. By eating slower, your body has the chance to process what you’ve eaten and let you know when you are full. You are therefore less likely to overeat.
Watch Those Drinks
A large part of the calories that we consume over the holidays come not just from food, but from all those drinks, cocktails and spirits that we so happily toast to. If you are trying to be health conscious this holiday season, stick to a few drinks. The best choices are wines and light beers. Try to avoid cocktails because they tend to be mixed with sugar.
In the end, the holidays are all about relaxing and having fun with family and friends. So it’s alright if you give your diet a little break. But if you can remember a few of these easy healthy eating tips, then you can start the new year off guilt-free
Black Truffle Salt
Black Truffles are highly sought after mushrooms without stems known as “Black Diamonds”. Black truffle salt is an excellent way to add this rare ingredient to dishes without the exorbitant cost.
Fleur De Sel
A rare and expensive form of sea salt that is harvested in parts of France. Known to be one of the highest quality salts money can buy.