I hope you have utilized some of my tips previously mentioned in my blogs. Here are some more of my favorite ideas for healthy holiday cooking.

1. Use pineapple or orange juice thickened with corn starch for glaze on vegetables, such as carrots. Do the same thing with cranberry juice for the turkey instead of gravy

2. Use jams and jellies instead of margarine or butter for bread.

3. Thicken gravy with tapioca and a little water instead of butter or margarine.

4. Use low fat or non fat cheeses instead of full fat cheeses.

5. Cook the turkey or chicken in the skin and bones for flavor, but avoid the skin when eating.

6. Try adding some extra healthier options with your holiday meal, such as White Meat, Steamed Vegetables, without butter and Sweet Potatoes

7. Only make enough for that meal or make extra and put leftovers in the fridge before serving, or give doggy bags to friends.

8. Use herbs and spice (Ex. Farlic, Cinnamon, Fresh Basil) instead of condiments like gravy and butter.

9. Be careful not to add to much oil to your meals. Remember 1 tablespoon of oil is 120 calories. Try cooking in wine oe lemon juice instead of using excess oil.

Dining out for the Holidays

Some friends and family do not like to stay home and cook for the holidays. So, if you are going out to eat during the holidays here are some helpful tips to remember.

1. Fill up on a salad first. This will decrease the amount of food that you eat.

2. Bring half of your food home to eat for the next day. Ask for a to go box before you receive your food.

3. Split the meal with a spouse, relative, or friend

4. Try ordering side dishes as your meal, such as mixed veggies, edamame, and a sweet potato

5. Avoid adding table salt

6. Use low fat and nonfat dressings in moderation

7. Dip your fork in the dressing first and then eat your salad.

Next week I will continue with some of my favorite dessert tips for the holiday season. Hope everyone is having a Happy December!

Previous related articles:

Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

As the holidays approach, this is the time of the year where most people begin to gain weight. It is also the time of year where most people make resolutions to start exercising, eat right and lose weight. It is extremely important to stay disciplined during the holiday season. So for the next few weeks my blogs will focus on holiday tips that will assist you in “Avoiding the Holiday Bulge.”

Read my other related posts:

Eating in a Tough Economy 1

Eating in a Tough Economy 2

Eating in a Tough Economy 3

A continuation on the “Eating healthy in a tough economy series”.

Price Comparisons

1. Instead of ice cream for $.26 for 1/2 cup, try lowfat cottage cheese for $.33 for 1/2 cup

2. Instead of a Klondike Bar for $.76, try lowfat yogurt for $.55 for 1/2 cup

3. Instead of Sara Lee Cheesecake for $1.10 a slice, try 2oz. bananas, 2 oz. cherries, 2 oz. strawberries and 1tbsp. lite cool whip for $1.07

4. Instead of a side salad at a restaurant for $2.99, try 1/2 cup fresh salad, 2oz. carrots, 1/4 of cucumber, and 2oz. of tomatoes for $1.91

5. Instead of 1 pop tart for $.24, try 1/4 cup Granola for $.18 or 1 packet of oatmeal for $.22

Foods under a $1.00

Here are some foods that are under $1. You will probably notice that these foods are healthier than other options, such as candy, cookies, cakes, pies and other high sugar, high fat foods.

1. 2 cans of tuna fish

2. 1 loaf of whole wheat bread

3. Canned beans

4. 1 container of yogurt

5.. 2 apples

6. 3 bananas

7. 1/2 dozen eggs

8. canned vegetables

9. 1 container of apple sauce

10. 1 box of raisins

I hope this helps motivate you to eat not only healthier, but more economical too.

Part 1

Part 2

The economy has taken its toll on just about everybody and everything that you do. Many people are cutting back and doing the best they can do to survive in a tough economy. I have some ideas I would like to share with you about how to get the most for your buck when it comes to nutrition. Here are some of my favorite tips: