Healthy Holiday Food Choices

One of the joys of the holidays is the traditional family feasts, the work-place parties, and the festive gatherings of friends to celebrate. When you want to maintain your healthy eating habits and still enjoy the food, it helps to make wise choices when filling your plate or glass.

Healthy Holiday Food Choices -- Appetizers

Desserts Food

Love appetizers but not all the calories? Choose freely from the relish tray, which traditionally contains a variety of raw veggies, but skip the dip. Or grab a few whole grain crackers minus the cheeses and spreads. Veer away from anything that looks deep fried, but remember that fruit wedges on a toothpick are always a healthy choice.

Healthy Holiday Food Choices -- Drinks

Choose a small glass of the wine as opposed to the eggnog, or sip iced tea or water rather than the sugary punches offered. Love your bubbly? Abide by the one-glass only champagne rule, or drop a lemon wedge into sparkling water.

Healthy Holiday Food Choices -- Main Courses

Turkey and chicken are healthy food choices, as long as you go with the white meat and skip the gravy. Can't resist the stuffing? Don't deprive yourself of something you love. Simply take a small helping and savor every bite. When ham is on board, again, choose a small portion and nibble rather than gobble. You'll be surprised how little it takes to satisfy your taste buds when you practice mindful eating.

If pasta dishes are the main course, again, opt for smaller portions, chew longer, and it will take less to satisfy you.

Healthy Holiday Food Choices -- Side Dishes

Seek out the veggie dishes and fruit salads that are not laden with sauces, butter, creams, and sugars. The closer they are to their natural state, the fewer calories they contain. Winter squash, cranberries, sweet and regular potatoes, cooked onions, and green beans are loaded with healthy fiber, vitamins, and anti-oxidants. Just beware of excess salt, fat, or sugar, and you'll do great.

Are rolls and breads on the menu? Choose whole grain rolls or a small slice of fruit and nut bread and make one piece last throughout the meal. Skip the butter if you wish, or spread with just a bit. These, too, have their redeeming graces in the form of fiber and vitamins.

Healthy Holiday Food Choices -- Desserts

Cut yourself some slack on this one. No one wants to embrace total deprivation, especially when it comes to all of these yummy foods that seem to come around only once a year. So have a humble-sized wedge of pie, a cookie or two, or a small piece of cake. Can't decide, because all of the desserts look so good? Put together a sampler plate for yourself with a taste or two of each dessert on it.

In conclusion, you needn't feel deprived over the holidays, nor do you need to totally blow your style of choosing healthy food. Done as described above, you can have enjoy the celebrations fully and still take care of your good health. It's all about making the healthiest choices when it comes to the delicious array of holiday foods.

Healthy Holiday Food Choices

Karen Chaffee is a freelance writer, poet, and artist living in Michigan.

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