Healthier Holiday Eating

Friends, family… FOOD! What’s a holiday celebration without the latter?! December is one of the busiest times of the year. Conquer the holiday rush with a little meal planning and prep.

Holiday parties

It’s a bad idea to grocery shop hungry. The same goes for attending holiday mixers! Reduce your chance of overeating by eating regularly during the day! And, eat a small, healthy snack an hour before you head out.

Keep your portions in check by using a smaller plate. If you drink alcohol, alternate with sparkling water with lime or club soda with a splash of juice.

Hostess with the mostest

Give veggies star power as side dishes! Serve roasted carrots and parsnips, baked acorn or butternut squash, or a spinach salad sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. For a healthy twist to your favourite mashed potatoes, try sweet potatoes instead. Swap in buttermilk or milk instead of butter and cream.

Serve small portions of decadent desserts and put out a decorative platter of seasonal fruit such as clementines, pomegranates, figs and pears.

Holidays = time with the fam

Connect as a family by creating new holiday food traditions. Cook a new recipe. Make festive food gifts using healthy ingredients, such as homemade soup mix. Layer dried lentils, herbs and spices in a jar and wrap with a bow.

Whether you’re hosting a big holiday meal, or hopping from one party to the next, you can still take part in the festivities and keep your commitment to making the healthy choice the easy choice

Jenn Giurgevich is the founder of Spark Nutrition & Health, a virtual nutrition consulting business.
Visit www.sparknutritionandhealth.ca for more information.