The holiday season blesses us with different festive delicacies, from glazed ham to greasy turkey. Well, these delicacies often overload us with stuff that our bodies don’t need. But the good thing is that you don’t have to say ‘no’ to these holiday meals. You can swap some ingredients to make healthier meals for the festive season and not sacrifice their amazing tastes. Here are five swaps we recommend.
Swap sweet potato casserole for glazed potatoes
Sweet potato casserole is a flavorful, sweet dish that everyone enjoys during the holiday season. However, the potatoes are usually packed with lots of sugar; they’re coated with marshmallows after being tossed in brown sugar.
In a bowl, combine olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Add potatoes and toss to coat. Then bake the potatoes till they are brown and crispy. You’ll get all the potato sweetness without the load of added sugars!
Trade butter and oil for sweet fruit
You know that the holidays involve baked goods. This implies the continuous consumption of sugar, oils, and butter- which has never been good for anyone. You could make your desserts healthier in different ways.
Instead of butter and oil, you could use fruit purees like bananas and applesauce. Using fruits automatically reduces the amount of sugar needed since fruits are natural sweeteners. You could also use whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
Ditch the pot pie: Eat Shepard’s pie
Pot pies are very common during the holidays; there will be pot pies as long as there are leftovers. However, this flavorful delicacy is high in sodium and fat- but you can get all the flavor in another way.
You could make Shepard’s pie instead of the typical pot pie. You only need to use lentils instead of beef and layer in your veggies. Then top with mashed cauliflower or sweet potatoes for added flavor.
Instead of rolls do multigrain loafs
White bread is a common appetizer. Everyone opts for the rolls before digging into the celebratory dinner. Well, you can replace the white bread and butter with healthier options- and everyone would still love the taste.
You could use whole-grain bread instead of white bread to enjoy the B vitamins, fiber, and protein it offers. You could also replace the butter with dipping oil- add a little balsamic vinegar for extra zest.
Have your mac and cheese but with a side of protein
Macaroni and cheese is a versatile dish that always appears on most holiday menus. You don’t need to be a dietician to know that this meal is high in fat. Good news: You can adjust that without making it less tasty.
Instead of regular noodles, you could use grain-free noodles like lentil or chickpea noodles. To reduce fat, use a cheese that is rich in flavor so you can use less of it. You could also add a little Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream or milk for more protein.
