Holiday season is here, and you know what that means. Lots of food, and lots of drinks.
Each year that passes, we can often find ourselves panicked at the thought of gaining those extra pounds with each serving. But rather than panic at the sight of one of those holiday dishes you love so much, try switching out the old recipes for something healthy and just as delicious—if not more—than the traditional dish!
Stop the weight gain before it even starts. No more skipping on extra servings, or feeling guilty about that pumpkin pie slice. Those holiday worries of weight gain will be a thing of the past.
So don’t skip out on those delicious meals come Thanksgiving and Christmas, but rather use these yummy alternative recipes that are deliciously healthy and won’t doom you into that awful fate of gaining those extra pounds.
Below are 4 healthy recipes and some tips to staying healthy through the holidays!
Vegan Stuffing
For those of you that want to step up your healthy game, this recipe isn’t only vegan, but packed with 11 grams of protein and more than 8 grams of fiber, great for staying healthy through the feast.
The recipe only requires just 9 ingredients, so it’s easy to make, and many won’t be able to tell the difference.
Loaded with veggies and lentils, this healthy vegan dish will make a splash at the party!
Click here for the recipe!
Healthy Candid Yams
Rather than loading your candid yams with marshmallows and candied pecans, try out this healthy version of yams. Yams are actually quite healthy and packed with nutrients.
By keeping the ingredients to a minimal, you can gain the nutrients from the dish rather than being flooded by excess sugar. Yams are a great source of fiber and potassium, as well as beta-carotene.
Maple syrup also is packed with nutrients like antioxidants, protects skin health, protects against cancer, flights inflammatory diseases, etc.
Click here for the recipe!
Vegan Green Bean Casserole
This dish one of my favorites during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it can often be filled with too much cream and sodium. This recipe puts a spin on the traditional dish by reducing sodium, oil, and heavy cream without compromising the flavor or texture. Another fun ingredient added in is caramelized onions. You won’t regret making this deliciously healthy alternative.
Click here for the recipe!
Healthy Pumpkin Pie
Traditional pies normally use a flour-based crust, but this pumpkin pie uses graham cracker crumbs, making it just as delicious without the added calories.
If you want to make it even healthier, you can use whole-wheat graham crackers, or gluten free crackers if you have a gluten intolerance. This recipe is also great because it calls for coconut milk. Coconut milk has a ton of healthy benefits, such as weight loss, improving cholesterol, bone support, cardiovascular health, etc. And unlike the traditional pumpkin pie that has around 330 calories per slice, this pie only has 276.
If you want to kick it up a notch, find a healthy alternative recipe for whipped cream. That way you don’t feel guilty about smothering your pie in that white goodness!
Click here for the recipe!
If you want to take it a step further in making sure no extra pounds are added to your waist this holiday season, here are some useful tips to think of when joining the festivities;
- Avoid dark meat when it comes to turkey.
- If you don’t want to use yams, switch it out with sweet potatoes. Although yams are healthy and packed with nutrients, sweet potatoes are packed with even more.
- Rather than surgery drinks, drink lots of water.
- If you have family recipes you want to stick to, substitute ingredients with their healthier version.
Good luck with the holidays and may your feasts be filled with food that won’t give you more than you want!
