How To Eat Healthy During The Holidays

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5. Nuts

Chestnuts roasting over an open fire is a classic holiday image, and if you haven’t hopped on board the nut train yet, now is the perfect time to start. Walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, and chestnuts are all great-tasting and healthy snack options, as they are high in minerals like selenium and more.

Be sure to opt for unsalted nuts if you have problems with high blood pressure, as excess sodium has been shown to contribute to hypertension. (Note—peanuts are not nuts, not matter what you’ve heard, so they are not included here. Go for one of the other options listed above instead.)

6. Take it easy with the pie

There is an abundance of sugar-filled candies and baked goods available this time of year, and it is very easy to get carried away. The next thing you know, you’ve packed on 10 pounds and you’re not sure how the heck it happened. While it is outside the scope of this article to go into too much detail, the truth is that modern science has shown that it is the consumption of sugar, much more so than naturally occurring fat, that causes people to put on weight. With this knowledge in mind, be aware of how much sugary food you are eating this time of year.

It is okay to have a nice slice of pie after dinner, but just have one, and eat slowly so you can actually savor it and enjoy the taste. Respond to internal cues to stop eating rather than external ones. What this means is that you should stop eating when you feel full, and not continue simply because there is still food in front of you.

Follow these simple steps and you can have a delicious and non-fattening holiday season. Enjoy!

References:

www.newsinhealth.nih.gov

www.heart.org

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