Ah, those holiday temptations … Christmas cookies. Cheese balls. Egg nog. You know you really want to be naughty when standing next to a table filled with such buttery and sweet goodies, but you don’t want to deal with all that guilt. Well here are some great choices that are good for you during the holidays.
Nuts were once shunned as high-calorie diet wreckers, now we know they are OK. They’re nutrient-rich and filled with vitamins B6 and E plus copper, magnesium and zinc — vitamins and minerals that are great for your immune system, as well as your heart, brain and bones.
Moderate drinking (defined as no more than two drinks a day for men younger than 65, and one drink a day for women or men older than 65) is linked with lower risk for heart disease, stroke, gallstones and diabetes. However, it’s what’s in the glass that counts.
Treat yourself to some sweets. It may surprise you, but the best way to watch your weight may be to surround yourself with them. A recent study by Belgium researchers found that having indulgences within arm’s reach can actually help you build will power and lead to more lasting success with weight control. If you banish all food temptations, you can’t learn self-control.
Skipping breakfast or another meal so you can load up at the holiday buffet doesn’t work. You’ll simply end up tired, cranky and ravenous. By the time the party rolls around, you’ll scarf down anything and everything in your path.
Veggies (with a bit of dip) are your friends. If vou want to keep from overeating, fill your plate with raw vegetables. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University fed subjects varying amounts of vegetables as part of a meal containing roast beef and rice. The more vegetables the participants ate, the less rice and beef — and the fewer calories — the subjects consumed. The authors of the study also found participants ate more vegetables when a little flavoring was added to them.
Dance away the calories. Try your own version of "Dancing With the Stars." For every 15 minutes spent whirling around the room, a 150-pound person will burn about 85 calories. A 200-pound person can burn 115 calories. A sweaty samba beats the waltz; disco and hip-hop burn away those cake calories.
Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and two types of healthy phytonutrients — flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. Flavonoids may slow the build up of plaque inside arteries by lowering bad cholesterol levels and raising good cholesterol.
When it comes to pies, pumpkin delivers a decent nutrition punch. One slice contains 250 percent of the vitamin A you should have in a day. One slice also contains calcium, thiamin, riboflavin and 5 grams of fiber. A piece of pumpkin pie has 310 calories and 14 grams of fat, 5 of which is saturated. But if you skip the crust you can trim one-third of the fat and one-third of the calories, yet keep all the beta-carotene and many of the other nutrients.
Cooling peppermint is a classic holiday treat. The herb peppermint helps relax muscles. It can ease headaches and offers a calming and soothing effect on upset stomachs. It aids digestion by improving the flow of bile (needed to digest fats). source
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