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Treat Yourself Well with Healthy Options for the Holidays

Multiple holiday parties and school shows now dot your calendar, festive baked goods are found around every corner, and candy bowls across the office are stocked daily. The holiday season has arrived, and as a proud partner of the Together Counts™ program, we realize that it can be difficult to stick to a healthy and balanced diet during the holidays.

The truth is that balanced meals focused on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains that also limit higher fat, calorie and sugar choices can help everyone in your family boost energy and mood while keeping unwanted weight at bay. This is how to truly treat yourself well. Armed with simple strategies, you and your family can navigate the holiday season with abundant health and energy.

Follow these tips to keep everyone in the family eating well and feeling great through the seasonal festivities:

  • Make the most of nutrient-dense winter produce, like kale, spinach, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants – all with fewer calories. Sweeter root vegetables and squash can be a good choice for kids, especially when paired with sweeter spices like cinnamon.
  • Opt for whole wheat rolls or a whole grain side dish in place of refined carbohydrate choices. Many whole grains can be cooked ahead and then tossed with other ingredients to finish before serving for an easy addition to the holiday meal or a quick weeknight choice. With B vitamins, iron and complex carbohydrates, whole grains are a smart choice for sustained energy during the busy days. More and more restaurants are adding whole grain options to the menu for flavor and variety.
  • Keep fresh fruits and vegetables on hand as snacks your family can grab between meals. These are also a fresh and easy option for appetizers to help your kids or party guests keep hunger at bay until the main course is served. Loaded with a wealth of vitamins and minerals, it’s no wonder that MyPlate recommends filling half your plate with these nutritional gems.
  • Opt for desserts that everyone can enjoy without the guilt, like baked apples, sautéed pears with a touch of honey and heart-healthy nuts or fresh fruit with sorbet. Try a lower calorie or fat version of classic desserts to savor favorites with a healthy twist, or look for mini desserts at restaurants. Treating yourself well this time of year means enjoying the occasional indulgence to help prevent going overboard and sabotaging your energy and healthy diet.
  • Choose lean proteins like turkey breast, lentils and beans, all of which can be easy to incorporate into family meals. Look for these same choices in many classic holiday dishes, from soups and salads to main courses. Be sure to pair lean proteins with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables to help satisfy and create a balanced meal.
  • When it comes to indulging in holiday treats, choose your favorite and savor it in moderation.
  • Fill out your diet with the best choices at restaurants for a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner, and opt for Healthy Dining-recommended menu choices when catering holiday events. There’s no doubt that this time of year can be especially busy. Restaurants can help take some of the work off your to-do list leaving you with more family time.

What tips does your family follow to stick to a healthy diet during the holidays? How do you treat yourself well and keep energy high during the season?

Healthy Dining’s signature web and mobile site, HealthyDiningFinder.com, is the only search engine of its kind providing personalized dining out recommendations validated by Healthy Dining’s team of registered dietitians. HealthyDiningFinder.com features more than 4,000 menu choices from participating restaurants nationwide enabling diet- and nutrition- conscious consumers to find nutrition information and Healthy Dining options emphasizing lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and unsaturated fats. HealthyDiningFinder.com also features a Kids LiveWell platform, a program developed by the National Restaurant Association, to help parents find restaurants offering healthier meals for children. With 25 years of expertise in the restaurant industry and hundreds of thousands of restaurant recipes analyzed for nutrient content, Healthy Dining is the most experienced restaurant nutrition services provider in the world.

For more healthy holiday ideas take a look at these other post on the Together Counts blog.

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