Holiday parties, baking, and being surrounded by our favorite comfort foods can sabotage our healthy eating habits. However, incorporating healthy snacks and eating special holiday treats in moderation can help us stay on track.
If you have a party coming up or you’re baking some treats for the family, think about having some healthy snacks on hand to curb your appetite. Munching on some carrot sticks or a few grapes while you’re baking can help keep you from sampling everything you’ve made. If you’re headed to a party in the evening, don’t try to get ready for it by starving yourself during the day. A better solution would be to have lighter, nutrient-packed snacks during the day. This can help keep you from feeling starved when you get to the party, which can lead to overeating.
The healthy snacks below are great for holidays and throughout the year:
- Make a smoothie with ¼ cup light vanilla yogurt, a handful of berries, spinach, and ½ of a banana combined in a blender.
- Sip on broth-based soup rather than cream-based soup. Chicken noodle or hearty vegetable are good options.
- Have ½ cup cottage cheese with ½ cup mixed fruit.
- Eat one ounce of cheese with four whole wheat crackers.
- Serve one tablespoon of peanut butter or other nut butter with apples slices or celery sticks.
Each of these snacks have protein as well as healthy sources of carbohydrates. Together they can keep your blood sugar steady and help you maintain a healthy diet even during the holidays.
Article Source: Mary Grider, Nutrition Educator