Healthy Holiday Eating Tricks

The holiday season is joyful for many, filled with celebration, quality time with loved ones and lots of delicious food. While creating holiday meals can stressful, it is possible to prepare festive dishes that nourish your body and taste buds. From mashed potatoes and gravy to fibre-full veggies, below are a few ways you can healthily transform your favourite treats, with insight from Dr. Fatima Stanford of Massachusetts General Hospital.

swap mashed potatoes with cauliflower. Mashed potatoes are a highlight of a holiday meal for many people. “Try something new this year and substitute cauliflower for potatoes. Mashed cauliflower has a light and fluffy texture, it’s packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre, and is less calorically dense” says Stanford, obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital.

swap store-bought with homemade. What goes better with savoury turkey and mashed potatoes than a little something sweet? Prepare your own cranberry sauce this season to reduce the amount of added sugar and adjust the amount of sweetness to your liking. With either fresh or frozen cranberries you can make a simple, but just as tasty, cranberry relish in about 30 minutes. Use orange juice and flavourful spices to give it some natural sweetness.

sneak in more fibre with veggie sides. Seasonal vegetables make for delicious and nutrient-dense side dishes. “Emphasizing vegetables on your plate can help you get the fibre your body needs for balancing blood sugar and good digestion. They also offer tonnes of vitamins and minerals your body needs to feel well. Opt for seasonal vegetables like roasted squash, beets or brussel sprouts dressed with olive oil, salt and pepper and herbs,” says Stanford.