Eat This, Not That this Holiday Season (From Men's Health Magazine)

Eat Healthy this Holiday Season

From Men’s Health Magazine

            You’ve all heard it before; most people gain weight over the holiday season, and avoid those sugary and fatty foods at all costs if you don’t want to be making a new year’s resolution to lose weight. Well it’s true, the average person consume an extra 600 calories per day in the timeframe between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not only that, but due to the stresses of the holiday season and the hectic schedule, more people abandon their workout routine during this time, compounding the problem and adding to their weight gain. So when you’re making the decision about what you should or should not eat this year, here are a few better choices to make.

-          Worst Holiday Beverage: Hands down it’s Egg Nog, with an average of 350 calories and 19 grams of fat per serving. Switch it out for some homemade hot chocolate and you can save yourself 15 grams of fat, and it tastes better too!

-          Worst Holiday Appetizer: Crab Cakes. While certainly one of my favorites, these tasty bites pack a whopping 400 calories and 19 grams of fat per serving, and that’s before you add any sauces to the mix. Try a simple shrimp cocktail and save yourself over 200 calories and 18 grams of fat.

-          Worst Holiday Party Snack: Spinach and Artichoke dip. Now I know what your thinking, spinach and artichokes=healthy. But this dip blows any health benefits from the vegetables out of the water, packing an artery clogging 11 grams of saturated fat per serving! Try wrapping melon in prosciutto (Italian cured ham) and save yourself nearly 200 calories and one triple bypass!

-          Worst Holiday Side Dish: A baked potato with butter and sour cream. Depending on your portion size of butter and using full-fat sour cream, you could be looking at nearly 20 grams of fat almost all of which is saturated. Try chopping some red potatoes into ½ inch pieces, toss lightly in olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast them for 45 mins at 375 degrees. You’ll save nearly 300 calories and people will be amazed at your cooking skills!

-          Worst Holiday Main Course: Prime Rib. I know this might seem like blasphemy to some of you, but the old standby is one of the worst offenders, coming in at 750 calories and 45(!) grams of fat per serving. Try a simple beef tenderloin (if you can afford it) or stick with the turkey and you’ll save yourself lots of time in the gym come the new year.

-          Worst Holiday Dessert: Pecan Pie with Ice Cream. If you serve this, you might as well give out gym memberships for gifts, because at 65 grams of fat and 810 calories, you’d be better off eating the prime rib listed above. If you do need to have a dessert this holiday season, stick to fruit and maybe some frozen yogurt, your heart and your waistline will thank you.