Skip the holiday weight gain with these tips!
It happens to me every holiday season: I get together with my friends and family, and my healthy habits go right out the window. Once I start enjoying the holiday cheer, the pounds start to creep up on me! This year, I’m determined to do things differently to avoid putting on pounds this holiday season. After all, it’s pretty easy to prevent if you can just make a few healthy holiday food swaps.
Instead of choosing creamy, butter-filled foods, we compiled a list of low-calorie alternatives. These tiny tweaks can add up and make a huge difference to your waistline. And don’t worry; no one in the family will know! Making healthy holiday food swaps doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor. So go ahead and make your favorite holiday foods, just do it a little bit smarter!
Healthy Holiday Food Swaps
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is one of my favorite healthy holiday food swaps. It a low-calorie, low-carb, low-fat ingredient that tastes great! You can use it instead of potatoes in your favorite mashed potato recipes, use it to make soup, create delicious appetizers like Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, or turn it into a tasty main course.
For a real treat, check out our Cauliflower Holiday Stuffing recipe.
Greek Yogurt
Skip the sour cream this year and use Greek yogurt instead. It adds creamy, rich flavor to your mashed potatoes, casseroles, and soups. No one will be able to tell you didn’t use sour cream, either! It has the same tangy flavor, and while sour cream is basically free of nutrition, Greek yogurt is packed with protein, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals.
Zoodles and Spaghetti Squash
Pasta dishes aren’t necessarily bad for you, but they can add up to serious calorie intake if you’re not careful. Make easy, healthy holiday food swaps by using spiralized vegetables instead of noodles. You’ll be sure to find inspiration in this collection of 12 Must Try Recipes Made with Zoodles.
If you don’t have a spiralizer, pick up a few spaghetti squash instead. Any of these recipes would taste great as an addition to your holiday table!
Bake Smarter
Most baking recipes are filled with two unhealthy ingredients: sugar and butter. Bake smarter this year and it will be easier than ever to make healthy holiday food swaps! Check out our tips for making sugar-free desserts, or look to these baking tricks to cut the fat.
Skinny Drinks
It’s easy to get weighed down with wine and beer during the holiday season. Not to mention calorie-rich drinks like eggnog! Instead of drinking your calories, look to these skinny drink options instead. You’ll feel included in the holiday cheer without having to expand your waistline.
Stay fit this holiday season with our meal plans, recipes, and fitness routines! Subscribe to our newsletter to get them all emailed to your inbox or follow us on Facebook.
