Our ancestors usually served the heaviest, richest meals during holidays, because the time and effort it took to hunt, gather and prepare these delicacies had to be reserved for special occasions.
In modern times, the physical exertion spent to "hunt" a meal is usually limited to reaching out to grab a warm greasy bag of burgers from the drive-thru window. We have an overabundance of food, and thousands of conveniences to keep us in our seats most of the day.
The social landscape has changed as well. There are more blended families, which can mean more parties and visiting days per holiday season. There is also more ethnic and religious diversity among friends and family than ever before, opening the door to sharing traditions and rituals we may have not otherwise have had the chance to experience.
Thanks to these cultural shifts, there are simply more celebrations to attend throughout the year, and more reasons to watch what we eat.
Some suggestions for surviving the holidays with your waistline in tact:
- Enjoy yourself, but practice moderation. Fill up on the good stuff so you have room for only a few bites of the high-fat offerings.
- Get in some extra exercise around the holiday so you can indulge a bit without guilt.
- Try recipes from cultures around the world rather than always sticking to North American standards. Many international holiday dishes are lower in fat. They also taste great and look beautiful on a plate.
- Don't stuff yourself. It doesn't feel good and it won't help you look good. Focus on the flavors and textures and make dining a sensual experience.
Here are some more suggestions for wise holiday food choices the whole year 'round.
Easter and Passover
You can't talk about Easter food without giving a nod to eggs. Eggs are fine in moderation, but don't overdo it on the hard-boiled, mayo packed appetizers. They don't call them "deviled" for nothing. They're high in fat and cholesterol.
Enjoy all the beautiful veggies featured in the spring holiday spread, like mixed spring salad, asparagus, and green beans. Just skip the butter and creamy dressing.
If you have a choice between ham and chicken for Easter, go for the chicken. Ham is fatty and high in sodium.
For Passover, Use smart little swaps like egg whites in place of whole eggs and low-fat cream cheese in place of the full-fat variety.
Focusing on vegetables for both appetizers and side dishes will help save you plenty of fat and calories. A platter of crudités served with a low-fat dip gives you the crunch of potato chips without the fat.
This simple tangy-sweet lamb recipe is suitable for both Easter and Passover. The glaze gives the meat flavor without a need for heavy gravies or sauces.
Spring Celebration Lamb Chops
Ingredients:
6 shoulder lamb chops, about 3/4 inch thick
3 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoons salt
dash white pepper
20 oz. can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint
Directions:
Mix orange juice, honey, salt and pepper in small bowl. Place lamb chops on broiler pan. Brush with the orange juice mixture. Broil about 5" from heat about 5-6 minutes or until brown. Turn, brush with more orange juice mixture and broil 6-9 minutes or until brown and to desired doneness.
Meanwhile, in small saucepan, combine remaining orange juice mixture, pineapple and mint. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Boil for 2 minutes and serve with the lamb chops.
Fall and Winter Holidays
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah are all notorious for derailing a diet. There are so many tantalizing foods, many of which bring back warm childhood memories. It can be difficult not to indulge in them all.
Many women are stressed out during the holidays. Whether the issue is money, family tensions, or the general pressure to get everything done by yesterday, it's all too easy to take comfort in high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods. Try having a cup of low-fat hot cocoa on nights when you need to unwind. It's warm, it's sweet, it's relaxing, and it will contribute to your peace of mind without contributing to your waistline.
Appetizers are a big pitfall at this time of year. They can send your fat intake through the roof before you even sit down to the main meal. Instead of greasy cheese puffs and calorie-dense eggnog try crisp breads with low-fat spreadable cheese and a cup of spiced cider.
For the main meal, it's not necessary to cover every side dish with butter or marshmallows. Think natural and lean. A sensible serving of white meat turkey, seasoned green beans, and a baked sweet potato is delicious, nutritious, and filling. If you love stuffing, but want to avoid the grease of the traditional kind, try this spinach variety. It adds fiber and nutrients to your meal.
Spinach Stuffing (Recipe adapted from Vera Kerekes on fatree.com)
Ingredients:
1/2 loaf stale French bread, cut in small cubes
1 onion, chopped fine
3-4 sticks celery, chopped
1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
2 egg whites (or replacer)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Sauté onions until browned. Add celery and mushrooms and cook until soft, about 15 minutes. Mix cooked vegetables with bread and remaining ingredients. Bake in casserole at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.
It's easy when the party's at your place, but there are so many get-togethers at other locations throughout the year where you have little to no say in what's served. You can help contribute to the party (and your health) by offering to bring something to the dinner. Make sure the "something" is a tasty and healthy dish everyone can enjoy. Even at traditional holiday dinners, you can usually find one or two things (like salad and fruit) that are better choices than the rest. Focus on those if you can.
Don't stress out. Play it by ear. Relax, mingle, and enjoy the people, the music, and the fun. There's more to the holidays than food, but with these healthy holiday tips you can have a low-fat holiday dinner and enjoy it too!
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