Rare are the occasions when everyone is gathered around as they are during the Christmas; this is why the holiday season is the perfect time to realize how important it is to appreciate all the things we have, feel blessed every step of the way and indulge in all the love surrounding us.
Holidays aren’t just about love, though – and we all know it. All the gorgeous and usually calorie-laden food we eat during the holiday season is so delicious and tempting that most of us don’t even stop to think what it’s doing to our health! Saying “no” to another piece of that rich chocolate cake with raspberries and double filling your Nana makes better than anyone in the universe sometimes seems harder than running for five hours straight to melt all the calories away!
To help you stay healthy during the holiday season, we are listing some of the worst and best types of food to consume or avoid during the upcoming celebrations.
Foods To Avoid
Egg Nog
Egg nog is a classic holiday drink, and with the added alcohol it is usually the favorite drink for many people. However, despite its amazing taste, Egg Nog is the worst drink in terms of fats and sugars. As dietitians inform, “one cup of Egg Nog has 10 grams of fat, which is about a sixth of the daily recommended amount if you’re consuming the standard 2,000 calories a day. One serving also has about 20 grams of carbohydrates (5 teaspoons of sugar)”.
So, if you can’t resist it – have a cup and no more! We’d always suggest opting for freshly squeezed juices and smoothies with veggies instead of egg nog.
Holiday Pies
Yep, undeniably enjoyable and usually a central part of any holiday dessert serving, pies are in fact among the worst holiday foods you can indulge, especially if we are talking chocolate cream pie, apple pie with ice cream, pecan pie, cherry pie and all of the other super delicious ones!
Try resisting these sugary treats as all that processed sugar may seriously damage your skin. Any of the healthy, delicious bars are a perfect replacement for a slice of a holiday pie.
Stuffed Potatoes
D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! You’re probably thinking “it’s potato so there are no calories there”. True, BUT! While baked potatoes alone still preserve vitamin C and fiber, once they get stuffed with sour cream, cheese, and butter in a true holiday manner, they become a calorie bomb! Prepared this way, the grease from stuffed potatoes may cause blemishes and even acne.
The Foods To Eat
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a true friend, especially during holiday season. They are a powerful antioxidant and an amazing source of beta-carotene, dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium. Best of all, they taste like dessert!
As CookingLight writes, “the “sweet” in these potatoes comes from an enzyme that converts most of the tuber’s starches to sugars as it matures. This sweetness intensifies during storage and as the potato is cooked“.
Cocoa
Like any other news would make you this happy! No explanation here, simply – enjoy it. Although, do consume it in moderation, please.
Turkey
Eating turkey ― whether dark or white meat ― is the best possible option for your holiday feast as it’s one of the lowest-calorie protein sources you can eat. And it’s delicious!
Our little list has hopefully helped you get some perspective on holiday foods. Don’t get too lazy, please – keep jogging, drink a lot of water, avoid alcohol and make sure you get a lot of sleep!
